High Court greenlights challenge to office that judges the judges

A High Court challenge, supported by Good Law Project, against the body charged with investigating judicial misbehaviour has been given permission to proceed.

The challenge – to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office – concerns its handling of multiple complaints of bullying and misogyny by Judge Philip Lancaster. In giving permission, the High Court found that a key reason given by the office for not taking complaints forward – that they concerned his conduct of case management decisions – was arguably unlawful.

In April 2024 the BBC reported on complaints from five women of “bullying and misogyny”; of what they described as Lancaster’s “degrading behaviour”. Then in September the BBC reported that three more women had come forward. One of the complainants, a GP, Dr Hinaa Toheed said, “I came to court because I was being bullied by a man only to be bullied by another man.”

Good Law Project is aware of 10 complaints in all, from two doctors, a nurse and a number of other whistleblowers.

The case is incredibly important. For the first time in its history, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office will have its interpretation of “judicial misconduct” scrutinised by the High Court.

Judges hold in their hands enormous power. They can deliver justice – or destroy lives. But they are only human, made from the same crooked timber of humanity as the rest of us. And it’s vital they are subject to effective oversight – to make sure they use their power to serve the rule of law and not their personal prejudices.