A magistrate has been issued with formal advice for misconduct after he was found to have taken a ‘dismissive approach to fellow magistrates’ views’ and treated a member of staff in a ‘disrespectful’ manner.
Farnoosh Shahrokhshahi, of the Nottinghamshire local justice area, was accused of displaying behaviour towards colleagues and a member of staff which the complainant considered to be ‘discourteous and dismissive’ on a day when he was acting as presiding justice.
The complaint said Shahrokhshahi’s behaviour included disregarding fellow magistrates’ views on a case. He was also alleged to have asked a member of staff where they were from and whether they were British and he was ‘curt and dismissive’ toward a staff member.
Shahrokhshai accepted he had asked the member of staff where they were from but denied he had intended to offend or discriminate and offered to apologise to them.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said Shahrokhsahi denied that he was dismissive towards his fellow magistrates’ views and explained that ‘differing judicial views are part of proper bench deliberation’.
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Shahrokhshahi disputed ‘certain facts’ in relation to the allegation of curt and dismissive behaviour towards a staff member.
An investigation found ‘certain aspects’ of Shahrokhshahi’s conduct amounted to misconduct, including that he had adopted a dismissive approach to fellow magistrates’ views, treating the member of staff in a curt and disrespectful manner, and asking questions of a staff member in a way that drew on their race, namely, by asking them where they were from.
The remainder of the complaint was dismissed.
Shahrokhshahi, who had an unblemished disciplinary record before the complaint was made, was found to have ‘failed to demonstrate appropriate courtesy, respect and awareness of the impact of his behaviour on others’.
Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice, and the lord chancellor issued Shahrokhshahi with formal advice for misconduct.
