171
discipline system. The JCIO filters out unfounded or
trivial
complaints,
referring
serious
ones
to
a
nominated judge, who acts as a further filter. Then
to an investigating Judge. This triage system ensures
that
non-trivial
consideration
and
complaints
that
Judges
receive
are
proper
investigated
by
their peers. If at the end of the process the LCJ and
Lord
Chancellor
wish
to
take
disciplinary
action,
they must refer the case to a review body composed of
two Judges and two lay members.’ (The Politics of
Judicial
Independence
in
the
UK’s
Changing
Constitution P.58-59).
The LCL and Lord Chancellor must decide jointly
on disciplinary sanctions but cannot take any action
more
severe
panel.
At
than
the
end
that
of
recommended
the
process
by
the
only
review
the
Lord
Chancellor can formally remove a Judge from office,
and only at Circuit Judge level and below. For Judges
of High Court level or above, the decision to dismiss
must be approved by both Houses of Parliament (this
has not occurred since 1830). There is also a process
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents