A magistrate who shared a video containing potentially transphobic commentary has been reprimanded for misconduct.
Jane Taylor, who sits on the south and west Devon bench, shared a YouTube video containing commentary which ‘could be considered’ transphobic in a parish council WhatsApp group.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘When a member of the WhatsApp group expressed concern that the video contained language which could be perceived as transphobic or offensive, Mrs Taylor replied that the video was about single sex provision and did not concern transgender issues, and that she did not consider the video to be transphobic or use transphobic language.’
In her representations, Taylor said she shared the video as other councillors had requested it and the video was ‘about the protection of single-sex spaces, which she was campaigning for in her capacity as a councillor, and not about transgender issues’.
Taylor, who described the complaint made against her as ‘politically motivated and intended to suppress debate’, said the video contained views of a third-party which she could not comment on but her own views were not discriminatory.
An investigation, which found the incident amounted to serious misconduct, concluded that Taylor had associated herself with views expressed in the clip ‘which may be considered transphobic, which could cast doubt on her integrity and impartiality’.
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The magistrate was found to have shared the video ‘without properly considering its impact’ and ‘unapologetically defended’ sharing it demonstrating a ‘lack of due diligence and insight’.
Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice and with the lord chancellor’s agreement, issued Taylor with a reprimand for misconduct.
Sanctions of misconduct by judicial officer-holders are, in order of severity, formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.
