JCIO 39/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Employment Judge (EJ) Catrin Lewis with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

The Guide to Judicial Conduct states that judicial office-holders are expected to display diligence and care in the discharge of judicial duties.

The JCIO received a complaint from a party to proceedings in the Employment Tribunal that EJ Lewis had failed to provide written reasons for her oral judgment nearly eight months after they were requested. Despite sending several emails to the Employment Tribunal to chase the outstanding written reasons, the complainant did not receive a response.

Employment Judge Lewis’s representations

EJ Lewis apologised to the complainant for the delay, accepted that she had overlooked the complainant’s written request for an update and issued the written reasons promptly upon being notified of the complaint. She attributed the delay to competing workload pressures, other judicial duties and her part-time working arrangement.

EJ Lewis stated that she had prioritised other urgent matters and was therefore unable to complete the written reasons for this case during her allocated time for judgment writing. EJ Lewis kept her Regional Employment Judge informed of her workload and competing commitments throughout.

Nominated Judge’s findings

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023, a nominated judge found that EJ Lewis’s failure to provide written reasons until eight months after the hearing amounted to misconduct. The nominated judge took into consideration that EJ Lewis had failed to keep the complainant updated as to the delay and when the written reasons for her decision could be expected. The delay also caused prejudice to the complainant’s right to appeal.

In mitigation, the nominated judge considered that EJ Lewis had no previous findings of misconduct, had fully engaged with the complaints process, and offered a full and prompt apology. The nominated judge also noted that EJ Lewis’ workload and other judicial commitments made it difficult for her to comply with the timescales to produce the decision.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor agreed with the nominated judge’s findings and issued EJ Lewis with formal advice. 
 

Notes for Editors

Media queries in relation to the JCIO should be made in the first instance to the Judicial Press Office - telephone 020 7073 4852 or via email - press.enquiries@judiciary.gsi.gov.uk 

Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are set out in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. They are, in order of severity: formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.

For more information about the Office, including details on how to make a complaint against a judicial office holder, you can visit the JCIO website at: Judicial Conduct Investigations website