JCIO 44/25

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

Mr Justice Keehan, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Ms Nicola Baldwin with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

The expedited process in the Judicial Conduct Magistrates Rules 2023 enables the JCIO to advise the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice that a magistrate should be issued with formal advice or a formal warning 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.

The declaration and undertaking which all magistrates sign on appointment sets out that they must declare any personal involvement in court proceedings. The Social Media Guidance 2024 advises judicial office holders not to use their official title or disclose their judicial role on any platform or account with unrestricted public access. A complaint was made by a member of the public which highlighted that Ms Baldwin had failed to inform her senior judicial officer that she was named as a co-defendant in civil proceedings connected to her position at her employer’s organisation. The complaint also alleged that Ms Baldwin referred to her position as a magistrate on her employer’s website, her email signature, and her social media account for personal gain.

Nicola Baldwin JP’s representations

Ms Baldwin was sincerely apologetic and accepted that due to personal pressures, she failed to disclose that she had been named as a co-defendant in civil proceedings. She forthwith reported the matter to her senior judicial officer. Ms Baldwin stated that she had referred to her position as a magistrate as an expression of pride and never with the intention of gaining any advantage. She has since removed all references.

Decision

Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice, and the Lord Chancellor agreed with advice from the JCIO that Ms Baldwin’s actions could have risked reputational damage to the magistracy. In agreeing to issue Ms Baldwin with formal advice, the lowest level of sanction, they took into consideration her full 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