Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (Annual Report 2013-14)

Tuesday 15th July 2014 Written Statements

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Grayling)]

With the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, I will today publish the first annual report of the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO). The JCIO provides support to the Lord Chief Justice and myself in our joint responsibility for the system of judicial complaints and discipline. The JCIO assumed this responsibility from the Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) on 1 October 2013. This report therefore covers the performance of both the OJC and the JCIO during the period in question.

Over the past year the JCIO received over 2,000 complaints and 574 written enquiries, providing a first substantive response within 15 working days in 94% of all cases and providing regular monthly updates to all parties in 95% of cases. I am pleased to note that the OJC and JCIO continued to provide this excellent service to customers while also managing the additional demands of introducing a new regulatory framework and establishing a new organisation.

A copy of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies will also be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office, as well as online at, http://judicialconduct.judiciary.gov.uk/documents/jcio_annual_report_2013_-2014.pdf