The Times Unveils Allegations of Bullying and Intimidation by Tribunal Judges
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This week, The Times revealed troubling allegations against tribunal judges, accusing senior judiciary officials of covering up complaints of bullying and intimidation. Seven women have come forward, claiming that they were subjected to abusive behavior by an employment tribunal judge, Philip Lancaster, and other tribunal judges.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) have been referred to the Information Commissioner for failing to disclose the number of complaints made against tribunal judges, despite a consultation revealing that between 700 and 800 complaints are made annually.
These complaints, averaging three per working day, rarely lead to any disciplinary action. The women have accused Lancaster of sexist behavior and excessive intervention during hearings, calling for an investigation into his conduct and the transparency of the complaints process.
Alison McDermott, who first highlighted Lancaster's alleged misconduct after losing a whistleblowing case in 2021, and other complainants, have faced challenges due to the lack of audio recordings in tribunal cases until November last year. This lack of documentation has made it difficult to substantiate claims of judicial misconduct.
Criticism extends to the misleading publication of judicial misconduct statistics, with claims that the figures do not accurately represent the volume of complaints. The recent change in handling complaints, shifting responsibility from tribunal presidents to the JCIO, aims to address conflicts of interest in the process.
The Times' investigation sheds light on the systemic issues within the judicial complaints process, calling for greater transparency and accountability to ensure fair treatment for all parties.
