All three had previously unblemished records, and have accepted responsibility and apologised.
Last week, Judge Stephen Reeder of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) was issued with formal advice for a ten-month delay in issuing judgment following a hearing in February 2025, despite repeated chasers sent by the complainant.
Earlier in May, District Judge Joanne Redmond and District Judge Allan Pickup were also both issued with formal advice, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office reported.
District Judge Redmond, who took six months to approve the full transcription of a judgment, attributed the delay to an administrative oversight.
District Judge Pickup delayed drawing an order for more than seven months following a hearing in December 2024, despite enquiries from the parties and reminders from the court office. This meant CAFCASS was unable to begin safeguarding work. District Judge Pickup cited ‘several pressures of work, including heavy daily lists and significant paper and digital boxwork in mitigation’.
