A magistrate who was found to have behaved in a way in court which impacted on vulnerable children has been issued with a reprimand for misconduct.
Three separate and unconnected complaints were made about Kay Scoresby, a magistrate on the East London bench, between June and October 2025.
The first complaint related to Scoresby’s conduct during Youth Court proceedings. Concerns were raised about her interactions with three separate children appearing before the court. She was alleged to have used ‘inappropriate and inaccurate language and expressed personal opinions in open court’. One child’s mother ‘felt distressed in relation to the interaction’.
The second complaint was made by an adult defendant who appeared before Scoresby. They alleged that Scoresby ‘displayed a lack of empathy and used inappropriate language’ and the complainant ‘felt demeaned from the interaction’.
The third complaint alleged Scoresby ‘adopted a confrontational manner toward colleagues, expressed strong personal opinions in open court, and made comments to youth defendants which appeared to lack compassion’.
Read more
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘Upon appointment, all magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking to maintain the dignity, reputation and good standing of the magistracy.
‘Judicial officeholders are required to treat others fairly and respectfully, remain patient and tolerant, and act professionally and courteously, particularly when dealing with vulnerable court users.’
Scoresby accepted she made an improper comment to an adult defendant and acknowledged she displayed frustration on occasion. She offered ‘limited’ apologies.
The JCIO said the magistrate ‘challenged the interpretation of her tone and the impact of her remarks and denied many of the criticisms’.
An investigation found the complaints proven and that Scoresby’s conduct amounted to misconduct due to the repeated nature of her behaviour, the impact on vulnerable children and Scoresby’s limited insight into the effect of her conduct.
Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice, and with the agreement of the lord chancellor issued Scoresby with a reprimand for misconduct.
Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are, in order of severity: formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.
