JCIO 72/25

   

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 Roberta Hall JP of the Southern Derbyshire Bench with a formal warning for misconduct.

Facts

On appointment, magistrates sign an undertaking which includes a commitment to sit for at least 13 days (or 26 half-days) per year.

A complaint was made to the Midlands Conduct Advisory Committee that Mrs Hall had failed to meet her sittings requirement for three consecutive years.

Mr Hall’s representations

Mrs Hall cited several factors that affected her ability to meet the sitting requirements, including work commitments, illness, and court cancellations. She explained that she had been a committed magistrate for 33 years, had served as a youth and adult chair, and was still working part-time. She noted that she had been granted a leave of absence in 2022/23, and that rota issues and cancellations had impacted her sittings in the two subsequent years. Mrs Hall stated she was on track to meet the minimum sittings requirement for 2025/26.

Nominated Committee Member’s Findings

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, a nominated committee member found that Mrs Hall had a reasonable excuse for not meeting the minimum sittings in 2022/23. However, the nominated committee found that Mrs Hall did not have a reasonable excuse for her low sitting levels in 2023/24 and 2024/25. The nominated committee member found that the evidence did not support her claims of rota issues or cancellations. The nominated committee member also took into account that Mrs Hall demonstrated insufficient ownership for her low sitting levels. While the nominated committee member found that Mrs Hall’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct, they acknowledged an improvement in Mrs Hall’s sitting levels in 2025/26.

Decision

Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed that a formal warning was a proportionate sanction taking into consideration Mrs Hall’s long-standing service and the improvement in sitting levels since the complaint had arisen. 
 

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