Judicial conduct investigations

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding procedures for investigating judicial misconduct, including impartiality measures and reporting duties. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the General Registry instead.

Key Facts

• The Department of Home Affairs does not hold the information regarding judicial conduct investigations.
• The request was received on 14 November 2019 and responded to on 19 November 2019.
• The authority suggested the requester contact the General Registry for assistance.
• The request covered measures for impartial investigations and duties to inform police or the UK Ministry of Justice.
• The case reference number is 1050061.

Data Disclosed

• 1050061
• 2019-11-14
• 2019-11-19
• 2 pages
• 1 document
• 01624 694313
• 01624 621298

Original Request

Upon referral to the First Deemster from the judicial conduct office for investigation into judicial misconduct please advise. 1. What measures are in place to ensure an impartial investigation. 2. On evidence of serious judicial misconduct that undermines public confidence such as a Deemster found not to be the author of his own judgements.Is an off island judge brought over to investigate. 3. On perceived evidence of perverting the course of justice by a Deemster. Is the isle of mans First Deemster duty bound to inform, the police, the United Kingdom Ministry of Justice and the Lieutenant Governor.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive's Office DHA Headquarters Tromode, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 694313 Fax: (01624) 621298 Web address: www.gov.im/dha Email: GeneralEnquiries.DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 1050061 19 November 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 14 November 2019 and which states:

"Upon referral to the First Deemster from the judicial conduct office for investigation into judicial misconduct please advise. 1. What measures are in place to ensure an impartial investigation. 2. On evidence of serious judicial misconduct that undermines public confidence such as a Deemster found not to be the author of his own judgements.Is an off island judge brought over to investigate. 3. On perceived evidence of perverting the course of justice by a Deemster. Is the isle of mans First Deemster duty bound to inform, the police, the United Kingdom Ministry of Justice and the Lieutenant Governor."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact General Registry who may be able to help you.

This information is not held by the Department of Home Affairs.

Please quote the reference number 1050061 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Department of Home Affairs