JCIO 81/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Employment Judge Richard Nicolle with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

Judicial office holders are required to report to their senior judicial office holder in relation to driving offences – single offences which result in six or more penalty points, multiple offences which result in a total of more than six penalty points, and/or any offence resulting in disqualification from driving.

In June 2025, Judge Nicolle disclosed that he had accumulated four three point speeding offences over a three year period ending in June 2024. This resulted in him receiving a total 12 penalty points. In December 2025, the judge also reported that he had received a six month disqualification from driving.

With Judge Nicolle’s consent, this matter was considered under the expedited process in the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023. The expedited process allows the JCIO to advise the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice that formal advice or a formal warning should be issued where the facts are not in dispute, and the conduct is very likely to amount to misconduct warranting one of those outcomes.

Employment Judge Nicolle’s representations

Judge Nicolle did not dispute the facts of his speeding offences and expressed remorse for them. He offered substantial personal mitigation regarding several serious issues which had affected his ability to focus during the period in question. He emphasised that while he did not seek to excuse his conduct, his speeding offences involved only marginal breaches of the speed limit on each occasion. He also explained that his initial failure to self-report was due to an oversight, not an attempt to conceal the offences. He nevertheless accepted full responsibility for his actions.

Decision

After careful consideration, the Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor accepted the JCIO’s advice that Judge Nicolle’s actions amounted to misconduct. In agreeing with the JCIO’s recommendation to issue Judge Nicolle with formal advice, they took into consideration that Judge Nicolle was issued with formal advice for a separate matter in early 2025, together with Judge Nicolle’s demonstrated remorse, insight and significant mitigating circumstances in this matter. 
 

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