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JCIO 94/25
Date: 25 March 2026
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:
The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Mr Robert Waugh, of the South Northumbria Local Justice Area, from office 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 sitting requirements.
North-East Conduct Advisory Committee recommendation
The North-East Conduct Advisory Committee recommended Mr Waugh’s removal from the magistracy for failing to meet the minimum sittings requirement for the last three years. Mr Waugh has not sat since September 2024 and is no longer engaging with the bench leadership team. He did not respond to the advisory committee’s efforts to address the matter.
Decision
The Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice agreed with the recommendation to remove Mr Waugh from office without further investigation.
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
