JUDICIAL CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE IS UNFIT FOR PURPOSE

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office is the judiciary`s disciplinary body.  Its composition is charted below. 

Unlike most such organisations it operates in secret. Unlike the Spanish Inquisition or the Star Chamber in England the proceedings are not available to public inspection unlike the trial eg of Joan of Arc who was tried by an English ecclesiastical court the verdict of which was subsequently overturned.  Of course that didn`t prevent her being burned at the stake.   Details of the disciplinary process and more are available by typing JCIO in the search box. Today, however, the iniquity of this so called judicial court  is more exposed than ever in its treatment of magistrates who have supposedly erred. In a word they are punished much more severely than their civil service full time paid seniors on the judicial ladder. 

Date:16 September 2022

STATEMENT FROM THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT

INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE

Mr Gary Cracknell JP

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

"Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice, and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mr Gary Cracknell JP of the South Northumbria Bench with formal advice for misconduct following a complaint about a verbal altercation he had with a neighbour. While finding the majority of the complaint to be unsubstantiated, they decided that Mr Cracknell’s conduct demonstrated a lack of the circumspection and sound judgment expected of a judicial office-holder."

ENDS

Note that even although the majority of the complaint is unsubstantiated Mr Cracknell`s judicial record is permanently endorsed with "formal advice".  This terse statement is typical of the public record. 

Date: 19 August 2022

 

STATEMENT FROM THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT

INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE

 

Kate Fitzpatrick JP, Natalie Carter JP and Susan Carrington-Porter JP

 

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

"Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Kate Fitzpatrick JP, Natalie Carter JP and Susan Carrington-Porter JP, of the Staffordshire Bench with formal advice for leaving court early without authorisation when they were listed to sit on hearings."

ENDS

From the above it would seem that a full bench must have had its own very good reason(s) for leaving.  The term "without authorisation" is a form of words that I`m sure would not have been used were the miscreant a District Judge or Recorder. It indicates the manner in which the JCIO regards magistrates. 

Date: 26 July 2022

 

STATEMENT FROM THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT

INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE

 

Lesley Pickup JP

 

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

"Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Lesley Pickup JP of the Greater Manchester Bench with a formal warning for her disruptive behaviour during an online training course and for the improper tone of her post-course feedback. In reaching their decision, they took into consideration that Miss Pickup had received a previous disciplinary sanction for intemperate behaviour and was unwilling to accept full responsibility for her actions."

ENDS

"disruptive behaviour",  " improper tone of her post-course feedback", "intemperate behaviour",  "unwilling to accept full responsibility for her actions."  These phrases of castigation appear to me as if a teacher is disciplining a disruptive child in her class.As for " unwilling to accept full responsibility for her actions." that means that she defended herself against the accusations but failed to convince the accusers of her innocence.  It reminded me of an occasion when I was appraised internally by the then bench chair who told me the process was that subsequent to her presenting me with her report and signing it off I was permitted to add my own comment after hers and that would complete the matter.  However after my criticism of her comments and having signed as instructed she proceeded to add her criticism of my comment wholly against  her own description of how the matter would be officially completed. She had changed her own rules to suit herself.  In the above case I have a sense that Ms Pickup had forfeited an opportunity to be professionally defended and that no doubt would be due to the cost of so doing.  In any event we just do not know proving once again that secret justice is bad justice.

Date: 25 July 2022

STATEMENT FROM THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT

INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE

Polliner Chukwuma JP

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

"Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mrs Polliner Chukwuma JP of the East London Local Justice Area with a formal warning for making a complaint against another magistrate in bad faith. In reaching their decision, they took into consideration that Mrs Chukwuma failed to accept responsibility for her actions."

ENDS

Once again the statement throws out the accusation that the erring magistrate "failed to accept responsibility for her actions."  In other words she had not pleaded guilty but defended her actions.  What`s more the sentence of the inquiry took into consideration that non acceptance of culpability.  The defendants at the Spanish Inquisition knew they could save their lives by renouncing their heretic beliefs or their Judaism.  I doubt that Mrs Chukwuma was offered the opportunity to "repent" and accept a reduced sentence; eg "advice" as opposed to "formal warning".  Unfortunately she now faces dismissal if a further "grievance" is successful. 

The above is just a current extract of the everyday workings of an organisation which should not exist in an England of 2022.  There must be some form of disciplinary process for members of the judiciary but in its current form it is simply not fit for purpose.