JCIO 52/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mrs Jane Taylor JP of the South and West Devon Bench with a reprimand for misconduct.

Facts

The Guide to Judicial Conduct and the Social Media Guidance for the Judiciary state that judicial office holders should avoid conduct that could undermine confidence in their impartiality or integrity. Magistrates also sign a Declaration and Undertaking on appointment to be circumspect in their conduct and uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the magistracy.

A complaint was referred to the South-West Region Conduct Advisory Committee after Mrs Taylor shared a YouTube video containing commentary which could be considered transphobic in a parish council WhatsApp group.

When a member of the WhatsApp group expressed concern that the video contained language which could be perceived as transphobic or offensive, Mrs Taylor replied that the video was about single sex provision and did not concern transgender issues, and that she did not consider the video to be transphobic or use transphobic language.

Mrs Taylor’s representation

Mrs Taylor stated that she shared the video at the request of other councillors. She said the video was about the protection of single-sex spaces, which she was campaigning for in her capacity as a councillor, and not about transgender issues. Mrs Taylor stated that the video also contained the views of a third-party which she could not comment on, but she maintained that her own views were not discriminatory. Mrs Taylor described the complaint as politically motivated and intended to suppress debate.

Nominated Committee member’s findings

Following an investigation under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, a nominated committee member found that Mrs Taylor had associated herself with views expressed in a YouTube video which may be considered transphobic, which could cast doubt on her integrity and impartiality. The nominated committee member found that Mrs Taylor had shared the video without properly considering its impact despite being aware of the video’s content, and then unapologetically defended sharing the video, which demonstrated a lack of due diligence and insight. The nominated committee member found that this amounted to serious misconduct and recommended that Mrs Taylor be issued with a reprimand.

Decision

Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed with the recommendation to issue Mrs Taylor with a reprimand. 
 

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