UK Magistrate Sanctioned in Relation to a Political Candidacy Leaflet

The Law Society Gazette (UK) reports, in an article by Bianca Castro dated 20 October 2025, that a Magistrate was sanctioned by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (UK) for referring to his position as a Magistrate in a leaflet he issued when running as local government candidate. 

“A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘The guide to judicial conduct reminds magistrates that the initials JP should not be used for the furtherance of trade, professional, business or political interests.”

A link to that article is here.

In Australia, the Guide to Judicial Conduct (3rd ed.) as published by The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration Incorporated, states, inter alia, in Chapter 3 – ‘Impartiality’:

“There are some well-established principles:

• Although active participation in or membership of a political party before appointment would not of itself justify an allegation of judicial bias or an appearance of bias, it is expected that, on appointment, a judge will sever all ties with political parties. An appearance of continuing ties, such as might occur by attendance at political gatherings, political fund raising events or through contributions to a political party, should be avoided.

• A judge should be cautious about associations of a business or of a social kind, and with organisations or persons who might be or become a litigant or a witness in the judge’s court.”

A link to that Guide is here.