JCIO 57/26

   

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 Mr Leslie Wegg JP of the Humber Local Justice Area with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

Judicial office holders are expected to maintain the dignity, standing and good reputation of the judiciary. The social media guidance advises judicial office holders not to refer or allude to their judicial status in their social media profile or in anything posted on social media.

The Guide to Judicial Conduct also advises that social media should not be used by individual members of the judiciary to communicate publicly about their judicial work, and that office holders should avoid content which could undermine public confidence in their impartiality.

Mr Wegg published two Facebook posts in which he identified himself as a JP. One post appeared on a campaign group thread concerned with family law and referred to his work in the Family Court.

Mr Wegg’s representations

Mr Wegg apologised for the posts, confirmed that they had been deleted, and accepted that he had been slow to keep up with developments in the relevant guidance. He explained that he had understood magistrates were encouraged to promote the good work of the magistracy. He also referred to his long service as a magistrate and the absence of any previous relevant conduct issue.

Nominated committee member’s findings and recommendation

Following an investigation under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, a nominated committee member of the North-East Region Conduct Advisory Committee found that Mr Wegg had contravened the social media guidance by referring publicly to his judicial status and, in one post, to his work in the Family Court.

The nominated committee member concluded that the conduct amounted to misconduct because it risked casting doubt on Mr Wegg’s impartiality and risked bringing the judiciary into disrepute.

Decision

After careful consideration, Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed to issue Mr Wegg with formal advice. They took into account that, while the posts were ill-judged and risked casting doubt on his impartiality, they did not contain offensive material. They also took into account his apology, deletion of the posts, long service and previous good conduct. 
 

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