JCIO 49/26

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Deputy District Judge Robert Anderson with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

The Guide to Judicial Conduct requires judicial office-holders to show ‘respect for the law and observance of the law’ and maintain the reputation and good standing of the judiciary.

In July, Deputy District Judge Anderson informed the JCIO that, between June 2024 and May 2026, he had received a total of nine penalty points on his driving licence for three separate speeding offences.

With the judge’s consent, the matter was considered under the expedited process in the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023. The expedited process enables the JCIO to advise the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice that formal advice or a formal warning should be issued where the facts are not in dispute, and the conduct is very likely to amount to misconduct warranting one of those outcomes.

Deputy District Judge Anderson’s representations

Deputy District Judge Anderson accepted responsibility for the offences and apologised. He said they were isolated lapses of concentration rather than a deliberate disregard for speed limits, noting that two offences occurred on relatively steep downhill roads and the third on a quiet dual carriageway. He also referred to his driving record, the approximately 22,000 miles he drives each year for personal and professional reasons, and his commitment to ensuring there were no similar incidents in the future.

Decision

After careful consideration, the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor accepted the JCIO’s advice that Deputy District Judge Anderson’s actions amounted to misconduct and agreed with the JCIO’s recommendation to issue him 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