Judiciary: Political Impartiality
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will have discussions with senior judges on maintaining political impartiality when making (a) professional and (b) personal comments in public.
Answered by Sarah Sackman
Judges swear in the judicial oath to act "without fear or favour, affection or ill will". They are recognised and respected across the world for their independence, fairness and impartiality.
It is for the senior judiciary to give guidance on the standards and behaviour expected of judges, and the judiciary revised its Guide to Judicial Conduct in 2023. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office exists to deal with complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office holders.
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