District judge issued with formal warning following firm’s multiple complaints

A district judge who allegedly made critical remarks about a firm has been issued with a formal warning.

However district judge Melanie Hay did not agree her actions amounted to misconduct.

A firm, which has not been named by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, made four separate complaints about Hay over remarks about it in four hearings which the firms said were indicative of bias.

Following an investigation, a nominated judge found that Hay’s ‘remarks were inconsistent with the principle of judicial impartiality and amounted to misconduct’.

The JCIO said: ‘The Guide to Judicial Conduct reminds office-holders to be courteous, tolerant and respect the dignity of all. They should also ensure that their conduct maintains and enhances public confidence in the judiciary.’

Hay accepted some of her comments were intemperate, the JCIO said. It added that Hay stated ‘she felt pressured by the conduct of the firm’s representatives’. She was also dealing with a ‘difficult personal matter during the period in question’.

Hays was issued with formal advice in 2020 for making a derogatory remark in court to a litigant in person.

A spokesperson for the JCIO said: ‘The lady chief justice, with the lord chancellor’s agreement, has issued district Judge Melanie Hay with a formal warning for misconduct.’