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JCIO 67/25
Date: 19 January 2026
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:
The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Miss Jennifer Reay of the South Northumbria Bench from office for failure, without a reasonable excuse, to meet the minimum sittings required of a magistrate.
Facts
On appointment, magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking which includes a commitment to sit for at least 13 days (or 26 half days) a year. If they fail to do so without an acceptable reason, they are expected to resign. They are also expected to keep in regular contact with their bench.
The summary process in the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023 enables a regional conduct advisory committee secretary to recommend a magistrate’s removal from office without further investigation where that magistrate has failed, without a reasonable excuse, to meet their minimum sittings requirement.
North East Conduct Advisory Committee recommendation
The North East Conduct Advisory Committee (NECAC) recommended Miss Reay’s removal from office, citing her failure to meet the annual minimum sittings since April 2022. They noted that Miss Reay had previously been contacted about her sittings but had still failed to meet the minimum requirement.
Miss Reay’s representations
Miss Reay did not respond to the NECAC’s request for comments.
Decision
The Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice agreed with the recommendation to remove Miss Reay from office.
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
