A magistrate who was ‘disrespectful’ and ‘inappropriate’ in his behaviour toward a young litigant in person has been issued with a formal warning for misconduct.
A complaint was made about Martin Dominique by an individual observing proceedings who said the magistrate had been ‘frustrated, rude, combative and aggressive’.
Dominique denied inappropriate conduct. He admitted making ‘accusatory remarks’ when questioning the litigant in person but denied being frustrated at any point.
An investigation found the complaint corroborated by independent witnesses. Dominique’s conduct during the hearing was found to be ‘loud, disrespectful, inappropriate and breached the standards expected of a judicial office-holder’.
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A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said the investigation took into account that Dominique ‘failed to take responsibility or apologise’. As an experienced magistrate in a leadership role, Dominique’s behaviour ‘involved an abuse of authority’.
The JCIO added: ‘The guide to judicial conduct advises judicial office-holders to seek to be courteous, patient, tolerant and punctual and [to] respect the dignity of all.’
Issuing a formal warning for misconduct, Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the lady chief justice and the lord chancellor, found there were ‘multiple instances of misconduct by Mr Dominique throughout the hearing’.
