Lexis®Library update:
Complaints about judicial office holders:
The Commons Library has highlighted that it is about their behaviour towards other people (litigants, lawyers, court staff, colleagues etc) and where there is a breach of professional obligations, giving examples such as bullying, racism, aggression and misuse of social media among many others.
England and Wales:
• Complaints about magistrates (lay justices) should be directed to the Local Advisory Committee
• Complaints about tribunal judges (except Chamber Presidents) should be directed to the relevant Chamber President.
Scotland:
• Complaints about judges should be directed to the Judicial Office for Scotland
• Complaints about reserved tribunal members (whether legal or non-legal members) are to be made to the relevant tribunal president.
Northern Ireland:
• Complaints about Northern Ireland's courts and tribunal judges should be directed to the Complaints Officer of the Judiciary of Northern Ireland
Complaints about courts, judges and legal professionals:
The Commons Library has explained that constituents should seek independent legal advice from an appropriate practitioner with professional indemnity insurance if challenging a judge on a point of law.
Judges:
• Complaints about judicial misconduct should be made to the Judicial Complaints Investigations Office (JCIO)
• This excludes complaints about judges in Scotland’s or Northern Ireland’s courts, UK Supreme Court, Magistrates (lay judges) and tribunal members (except for Chamber Presidents)
Courts and tribunals:
• Complaints should be raised with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) or if relevant, its Scottish or Northern Ireland equivalent
Other Legal Professionals:
• Complaints about a lawyer who is not a judge should be made as relevant to the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board, the Legal Ombudsman or the CILEx Regulation in England
• Complaints should be made to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in Scotland
• Complaints should be made to the Law Society of Northern Ireland for solicitors and the Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar of Northern Ireland for barristers.
Sources:
• Complaining about personal conduct of judicial office-holders
• Complaining about courts, judges and legal professionals
This content was first published by LNB News / Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 7 March 2023 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: www.lexisnexis.co.uk.
