This page contains the JCIO’s publications.
Statement - 22 May 2026
Judicial review proceedings were brought in relation to decisions made by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) to reject or dismiss a number of complaints that it received about Employment Judge Philip Lancaster's conduct in Employment Tribunal hearings.
The JCIO has accepted that it erred in its consideration which rejected or dismissed those complaints and has agreed to reconsider those complaints.
The full statement of reasons agreed between the complainants and the JCIO is published. This explains that the JCIO’s initial decision did not fully engage with the cumulative nature of the complaints and accepts that repeated acts are capable of raising a question of misconduct when viewed cumulatively. The JCIO also accepts that the initial decision contained statements of the law that were not precise or accurate. The JCIO agrees that complaints relating to judicial case management may fall within the JCIO remit where there is a question of improper personal conduct, such as the manner in which a judge behaved in managing a hearing.
Complaints about the substance of judicial or case management decisions remain outside of JCIO's remit and can only be challenged through the courts.
Further information about the types of complaints which the JCIO can and cannot investigate can be found here - What can I complain about