A magistrate who liked a post on LinkedIn which contained ‘several politically sensitive statements’ has been issued formal advice for misconduct.
A complaint was made by a member of the public that Adrian Kermode had liked a posted in August 2025 on LinkedIn and his actions were in breach of the standards of conduct expected of judicial office-holders.
Kermode accepted responsibility and apologised. A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said Kermode took ‘prompt action to delete the like and gave assurances as to his future conduct’.
However the JCIO said the magistrate’s actions ‘risked undermining public confidence in his impartiality and had reputational implications for the magistracy’. It added: ‘The declaration and undertaking signed by all magistrates on their appointment states that they will maintain the good reputation of the magistracy at all times, in their private, working, and public lives.
‘Social media guidance for the judiciary cautions against expressing or appearing to endorse views that could cast doubt on an office-holder’s objectivity or impartiality. This includes engaging with controversial content, including by liking, sharing, or commenting on posts that relate to political, legal, or socially divisive issues.’
Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice and with the lord chancellor’s agreement, issued Kermode with a sanction of formal advice for misconduct.
Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are, in order of severity, formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.
