JCIO 54/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor's agreement, has issued Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

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

The JCIO received two complaints that Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans had not yet issued case management orders in two separate cases. On being notified of the complaints, Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans subsequently issued the case management orders. However, the result was that the case management orders were issued four and five months after the respective hearings had been held.

Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans' Representations

In her representations, Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans apologised for the delays. She explained that in one case, the delay had arisen through an oversight; while in the other case, there were several factors in the case which made it more difficult to finish the case management order within standard timeframes. She also explained that she had been experiencing some difficult personal circumstances.

Nominated Judge's Findings

An investigation was carried out under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023. A nominated judge found that, by delaying the issue of case management orders in each case, Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans had failed to discharge her judicial duties with diligence and care, which amounted to misconduct.

In recommending a sanction of formal advice, the nominated judge acknowledged that Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans had accepted the delays from the outset, voluntarily provided written apologies to both complainants, and rectified the lack of case management orders after being notified of the complaints. The nominated judge also acknowledged Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans' personal circumstances and that she had a previously unblemished record of conduct.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor agreed with the nominated judge’s recommendation and issued Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans 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