Magistrate Michael Muldoon receives formal misconduct advice after being caught speeding
A magistrate has been formally sanctioned after being caught speeding and receiving six penalty points on his driving licence. Michael Muldoon, who reported himself upon receiving a notice of the intended prosecution, has been issued with formal advice for misconduct by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO).
According to a spokesperson for the JCIO, judicial office holders, including magistrates, are expected to demonstrate “respect for the law and observance of the law” at all times. When accepting their roles, magistrates agree to uphold the dignity, standing, and good reputation of the magistracy, which includes maintaining high standards of personal conduct.
Under the rules, any road traffic offence that results in either a period of disqualification or the endorsement of six or more penalty points on a magistrate’s driving licence must be reported to the relevant leadership judge or bench chair. In Muldoon’s case, his speeding offence was dealt with by consent, and there was no dispute over the details of the complaint.
Embed from Getty Images
In his response, Muldoon expressed regret and embarrassment over the situation, apologising for his actions. He sought guidance from his “judicial mentor” and promptly notified his bench chair, as required by the rules. Aside from the six penalty points, Muldoon stated that he held a clean driving licence without further violations.
Mr Justice Keehan, acting on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the agreement of the lord chancellor, determined that Muldoon’s actions in relation to the speeding offence amounted to misconduct. Following this, the magistrate was issued with formal advice for misconduct as a result of his failure to adhere to the high standards expected of those in judicial roles.
The incident adds to the growing scrutiny of judicial behaviour and highlights the importance of magistrates being held to account for actions that could undermine public trust in the judicial system.