Judge’s ‘inappropriate’ social media posts lead to formal advice for misconduct

A judge has been issued with formal advice for misconduct after he was found to have posted inappropriately on social media.

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said Recorder Simon Myerson had ‘failed to maintain the standards of his judicial office’ after he engaged in politically controversial issues on Twitter, now known as X. The JCIO said he had previously identified his judicial status. 

Following two complaints regarding a series of tweets that they found to be offensive, an investigation was carried out. The nominated judge found Myerson’s behaviour amounted to misconduct and recommended he should be issued with formal advice.

The JCIO said: ‘In making their recommendation, the nominated judge considered that Recorder Myerson had identified his judicial status in historic tweets, engaged in politically controversial issues, sometimes in an offensive manner, and failed to maintain the standards of his judicial office.

‘Social media guidance issued to the judiciary advises judges to avoid participation in online debates about the judiciary, legal system or other topics of political controversy. It also reminds judges to maintain the moral authority, integrity, decorum and dignity of their judicial office.’

No further details were provided by the JCIO about which tweets posted by Myerson were complained of. It added: ‘Having considered the facts of the case, the lady chief justice and lord chancellor agreed with the nominated judge that Recorder Myerson’s actions amounted to judicial misconduct and that the appropriate disciplinary sanction is formal advice.’