A magistrate who was accused of ‘bullying and harassing behaviour’ has been issued with a formal warning.
Roberta Buckingham, who had a 17-year unblemished record of service, was alleged to have engaged in ‘bullying and harassing behaviour towards a colleague and made disparaging remarks about them’. She was also alleged to have improperly disclosed confidential information relating to the conduct investigation to a third party.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘The declaration and undertaking, which all magistrates sign upon appointment, requires magistrates to maintain the dignity, standing and good reputation of the magistracy.
‘The guide to judicial conduct also reminds office holders to seek to be courteous, patient, tolerant and punctual and to respect the dignity of all, and to display respect for and observance of the law. The statement of expected behaviour states that office holders should treat others fairly and respectfully, act professionally and courteously, be aware of how their words and behaviour can affect others, remain patient and tolerant when encountering difficult situations, and be careful not to abuse their authority.’
Buckingham, who denied making any derogatory comments, said she considered that she was a ‘victim of harassment and discrimination by the colleague, whom she believed held a grudge against her’.
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An investigation found Buckingham had engaged in behaviour which was ‘demanding, disrespectful, pressurising, accusatory or unprofessional towards a colleague’ over a period of months. The JCIO did not specify how many months.
Buckingham was also found to have improperly disclosed confidential information about the conduct investigation and referred to her colleague in ‘disparaging terms’ to a third party. She accepted she had shared information relating to the investigation but did so ‘in good faith, believing the third party already had prior knowledge of the conduct investigation and that the information was therefore not confidential’.
The investigation found Buckingham's behaviour amounted to serious misconduct and recommended she receive a reprimand, the most serious sanction before removal from office.
However the lord chancellor and Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice, said the lesser sanction of a formal warning would be appropriate given the facts and Buckingham's previous conduct record.
