JCIO 93/25

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Ms Rachel Onikosi JP, of the South-East London Local Justice Area, with a reprimand for failure, without a reasonable excuse, to meet the minimum sittings required of a magistrate.

Facts

On appointment, magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking which includes a commitment to sit for at least 13 days (or 26 half days) a year. If they fail to do so without an acceptable reason, they are expected to resign. They are also expected to maintain contact with their bench chair.

The summary process in the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023 enables a regional conduct advisory committee secretary to recommend a magistrate’s removal from office without further investigation where that magistrate has failed, without a reasonable excuse, to meet their minimum sittings requirement.

London Conduct Advisory Committee (LCAC) recommendation

The LCAC recommended Ms Onikosi’s removal from office due to her failure to meet the minimum sittings requirement in 2024/25 and for failing to maintain contact with her bench chair. In making this recommendation, the LCAC had taken into account that Ms Onikosi had also failed to meet the minimum sittings requirement in 2023/24.

Ms Onikosi’s representations

Ms Onikosi apologised for her poor attendance. She accepted responsibility for not updating her availability before the rota was published, which would have avoided having to cancel sittings which clashed with her paid employment. She committed to improving her sittings and proposed an action plan going forward.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor agreed that a reprimand was a proportionate sanction taking into account her renewed commitment to sitting and her progress towards meeting the minimum requirement for 2025/26. 
 

Notes for Editors

Media queries in relation to the JCIO should be made in the first instance to the Judicial Press Office - telephone 020 7073 4852 or via email - press.enquiries@judiciary.gsi.gov.uk 

Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are set out in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. They are, in order of severity: formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.

For more information about the Office, including details on how to make a complaint against a judicial office holder, you can visit the JCIO website at: Judicial Conduct Investigations website