Judicial conduct: complain to the ombudsman
How to apply to the ombudsman if you made a complaint about a judge or another judicial officer, and think it wasn't dealt with properly.
You can use the ombudsman if you are not happy with the way a complaint about a judge, magistrate, tribunal member or coroner was handled.
The Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman can look into the case if you made the complaint, or if someone complained about you.
The ombudsman can only help if the complaint has already been considered by the:
- Judicial Conduct Investigations Office
- tribunal president
- magistrates’ advisory committee
Make sure you write to the ombudsman within 28 days of getting the final decision about the original complaint.
How to complain to the ombudsman
To take your case to the ombudsman, fill in the JACO conduct complaint form.
You will need to clearly explain what the JCIO, tribunal president or advisory committee did wrong.
You can return this by email, or send it to:
Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman's Office
Postal point 1.55,
1st Floor, the Tower,
102 Petty France,
London SW1H 9AJ
DX 152380 Westminster 8
Email: Headofoffice@judicialombudsman.gov.uk
After you complain to the ombudsman
The ombudsman will let you know within 5 working days if they can deal with your case.
They may ask you for more details of your complaint, and what you would like to happen to put things right.
You will get a letter or report at the end of the investigation with the ombudsman’s decision.
What the ombudsman can decide
The ombudsman can uphold or dismiss your complaint.
They can recommend:
- an apology or compensation for any loss you have suffered
- changes to the judicial complaint process
They can also set aside a decision if there were problems with any disciplinary action, and ask for it to be looked at again.
The ombudsman cannot:
- reopen a court or tribunal case, or review a judge’s decision
- reprimand the office holder, or remove them from office
- force anyone to pay compensation
The ombudsman’s decision is final, and you cannot appeal against it.
Last updated 31 July 2020 + show all updates
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Complaints address updated
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First published.