JCIO 41/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Dr Sujata Chadha, a medical member of the Social Entitlement Chamber with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

The Guide to Judicial Conduct reminds office holders of the need for diligence and care in the discharge of their judicial duties. This includes an expectation to pay full attention to court proceedings. The JCIO received a complaint that on two separate occasions, Dr Chadha had spent part of her time during hearings using her phone and laptop to send personal text messages and emails. This matter was dealt with, by consent, under the expedited process in the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023. The expedited process may be adopted where—

(a) there is no dispute as to the facts set out in the complaint;
(b) the alleged facts relate to conduct which the JCIO considers that the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice would be very likely to decide amounted to misconduct; and
(c) the JCIO considers that the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice would be very likely to decide that formal advice or a formal warning was the appropriate disciplinary sanction.

Dr Chadha’s representations

Dr Chadha did not dispute the allegations. She acknowledged that her conduct on the occasions in question was inappropriate and unprofessional, and apologised for it. She gave reassurances that this behaviour would not happen again.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor agreed with advice from the JCIO that Dr Chadha’s actions amounted to misconduct. This was on the basis that she had breached the requirement for diligence and care in the discharge of her duties as a medical member of the tribunal. This risked reputational harm to herself and to the tribunal. In agreeing to issue Dr Chadha with a sanction of formal advice, they took into consideration her acceptance of responsibility, her apology and the lack of any previous findings of misconduct against her. 
 

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