A magistrate has been issued with a formal warning for misconduct – a year after receiving formal advice for similar behaviour.
A fellow magistrate complained that Gillian Sebright, of the Birmingham and Solihull bench, had challenged a colleague in front of others about their conduct and at a subsequent meeting, accused them of misogyny. The complainant said Sebright’s behaviour had ‘caused them distress’.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘All magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking, which includes a commitment to act with circumspection and to maintain the dignity, reputation, and good standing of the magistracy.
‘Judicial office holders are also expected to treat others fairly and respectfully, and to act professionally and courteously.’
Sebright said she ‘did not deliberately seek to confront her colleague’ and her questions ‘were based on intrigue and that the language was not intimidating or accusatory’.
She added that the subsequent meeting happened under ‘strained circumstances which led to matters becoming heated’ and expressed regret for ‘allowing her upset and frustration to become apparent’.
Read more
An investigation found that ‘while some aspects of Sebright’s conduct in isolation might not have amounted to misconduct, the combined effect of her actions did cross the threshold’, the JCIO said.
Accusing a colleague of misogyny in front of others was found to ‘represent a failure to act in a circumspect manner and to treat a colleague fairly and respectfully’ and amounted to misconduct.
In late 2025, Sebright received a sanction of formal advice for speaking to court officials in an inappropriate manner in open court.
Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice, and with the agreement of the lord chancellor issued Sebright with a formal warning.
