A circuit judge has been issued with formal advice for misconduct after failing to progress court cases in a timely manner. 

County court

His Honour Judge Jan Luba accepted that he had ‘delayed unduly’ in dealing with applications in four cases and ‘sincerely apologised’ for the delay.

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said: ‘Following an investigation…a nominated judge found that His Honour Judge Luba had failed to progress four cases, specifically that he had failed to deal with applications in those cases in a timely manner.’

The JCIO added that judicial office-holders are ‘expected to display diligence and care in the discharge of judicial duties’ in accordance with the guide to judicial conduct.

The judge ‘expressed his regret’ at the delay and once notified of the complaint against him ‘took immediate steps to deal with the applications’.

The JCIO said: ‘His Honour Judge Luba explained that he had taken on a role dealing with a group of litigants who are involved in multiple cases often with multiple applications to a number of courts. Taking on this role together with his other judicial duties led to his workload being too great, but he nonetheless accepted that ‘being too busy is not excuse for delay’.

‘The lady chief justice, with the lord chancellor’s agreement, has issued His Honour Judge Jan Luba with formal advice for misconduct.’