A magistrate and local councillor has been issued with a formal warning for misconduct after posting on social media a letter he wrote to then-lord chancellor David Lammy outlining his concerns about sentencing reform.
Alex Yip, of the Midlands and Solihull bench, posted on his councillor Alex Yip social media account identifying himself as a magistrate. He included a letter he had sent to David Lammy, then lord chancellor and justice secretary, outlining his concerns about sentencing reform.
Yip said that the letter was issued in his capacity as a councillor and accepted that sharing the letter on social media was inappropriate. He said that he had referenced his magistrate experience in the letter to convey his understanding of the subject matter, not gain advantage.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘All magistrates, upon appointment, sign a declaration and undertaking that includes a commitment to conduct themselves with circumspection and to uphold the reputation and good standing of the magistracy. The guide to judicial conduct states that magistrates who are involved in political activity should guard against any perception that their involvement is in their judicial capacity. They should not comment publicly on the merits, meaning or likely effect of government policy.’
The JCIO said Yip apologised for his actions, accepted responsibility and expressed regret. He took ‘immediate’ action to remove any reference to his role as a magistrate from the social media post.
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Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice, and the lord chancellor agreed that a formal warning was a ‘reasonable and proportionate’ sanction.
Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are, in order of severity, formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.
