Judges Rush to Delete Job Titles from Social Media Profiles Following Misconduct Warning

Following a recent formal misconduct warning being issued to a senior judge for inappropriate social media activity, a wave of judges are now amending their social media profiles to remove any references to their official roles.

The incident began when Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram, who had identified himself as a senior judge on LinkedIn, received a formal warning for liking a controversial social media post that branded Israel a terrorist state and called for a ‘free Palestine’. This action prompted a number of complaints and led to disciplinary action by the lady chief justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, and the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk KC.

Initially, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office recommended a penalty of “formal advice.” However, Baroness Carr and Alex Chalk KC increased the reprimand to a formal warning, emphasising the serious nature of Judge Ikram’s actions, which they believe caused perceived bias and significant reputational damage to the judiciary. They also stressed the importance of judges removing any reference to their roles from their social media profiles.

In response, many judges have now deleted any references to their judicial roles from their social media profiles, including Naomi Ellenbogen of the High Court, Peter Blair, honorary recorder of Bristol, and Mark Lucraft, recorder of London.

This incident serves as yet another reminder of the proper use of social media by judges and barristers. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has long recognised the potential pitfalls of social media for legal professionals, as evidenced by their social media guidance issued and revised over the years. The latest guidance, released in September 2023, reiterates the importance of how barristers express their views and clearly warns barristers that they face disciplinary action if complaints are investigated and upheld. 

Our article on the revised social media guidance can be viewed here.

This latest social media incident also comes at the same time as the most recent update introduced by X (formerly known as Twitter) to remove the ability to see what other users have like. According to the company, this decision is aimed at better protecting users' privacy on the app, which may help mitigate some risks associated with inadvertent endorsements or perceived biases on social media.

In conclusion, the recent incident once again highlights the necessity for clear and stringent guidelines on social media use within the judiciary. Judges and barristers must navigate social media with caution, balancing opinion and professional responsibilities.

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