Magistrate given formal warning over online posts

A Berkshire magistrate who posted messages on social media that could have been "perceived as expressing negative views towards women" has been given a formal warning.

Aham Igbokwe was also found to have posted about Nigerian politics in a way that "could reasonably be perceived as demonstrating bias towards a cause".

Magistrates must "exercise caution" online and "should not publish, endorse or share material that could call their independence, integrity or impartiality into question."

Igbokwe told the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) that his posts "reflected established Christian teaching and did not demonstrate bias against women."

The JCIO said he previously had an "unblemished" 18-year record as a magistrate.

But following the complaint against him, it said the "perception of bias" in multiple posts "risked bringing both his own integrity and that of the magistracy into disrepute".

A member of the JCIO's South-East Region Conduct Advisory Committee found his use of social media amounted to misconduct and recommended that he be given a formal warning.

That formal warning was issued following "careful consideration" by Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor Alex Norris, the JCIO said.