No record is kept of the number or proportion of the judiciary who have a criminal record.
The judicial appointment process requires candidates to be of good character. Applicants are required to declare their criminal records, which are checked with the Criminal Records Bureau and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and for serving judges being recommended to a different post, with the Office for Judicial Complaints. All but the most minor convictions will normally disqualify someone from being appointed.
Post appointment, judicial office holders are required to report any criminal caution or charge to their senior judge and keep him or her informed of the progress and outcome of the case.
Information regarding the number of judiciary who have been dismissed for committing a criminal offence has only been collated centrally from 2004. The information is as follows:
2004: Two magistrates
2005: Six magistrates
2006-07: Three magistrates
2007-08: Two magistrates
2008-09: Two magistrates and one district judge.