JCIO 70/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Mrs Nicola Walker of the North Yorkshire 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.

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 (NECAC) recommendation

The NECAC recommended Mrs Walker’s removal from office due to her failure to undertake any training following her appointment to the magistracy in June 2022. Mrs Walker has not been sworn in and has never sat as a magistrate. Whilst Mrs Walker indicated in 2023 that she was unable to continue because of unforeseen circumstances, she did not respond to the bench chair’s attempts to discuss the available options.

Mrs Walker’s representations

Mrs Walker did not respond to the NECAC’s attempts to contact her about the matter.

Decision

The Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice agreed with the NECAC’s recommendation to remove Mrs Walker from office without further investigation. 
 

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