- Conservative councillor Simon Fawthrop has been dismissed from his role as a magistrate after publicly criticising a judge and alleging a "two-tier justice system".
- Mr Fawthrop made the remarks outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court following the conviction of four anti-ULEZ activists for harassing Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan.
- He labelled District Judge Daniel Sternberg’s verdict "inconsistent" and a "body-blow to free speech", suggesting the judge should have recused himself due to "unconscious bias".
- The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) found Mr Fawthrop guilty of gross misconduct, saying that his comments undermined public confidence in the judiciary and the criminal justice system.
- The JCIO concluded that Mr Fawthrop demonstrated a "fundamental misunderstanding" of his judicial obligations, as he claimed to be acting solely as a councillor and minimised the seriousness of his actions.
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