THREE YEARS OF NOTHING
Scotland’s judicial watchdog fails to publish a single annual report
Scotland’s judicial watchdog has failed to produce a single annual report in her three years in the job.
In 2014, Gillian Thompson was appointed Judicial Complaints Reviewer to investigate complaints by the public against judges.
Her contract ends next month – but she has so far failed to produce any annual reports.
Former civ il servant Thompson replaced Moi Ali, who in her final report detai led complaints of al leged racial biogtry, bullying, lying, conflicts of interest and making secret recordings of meetings.
Legal campaigner Peter Cherbi said: “I’m a little concerned at Ms Thompson’s policy of not producing a report each year given the public expectation of being kept updated on judicial transparency and complaints about judges.
“Yet at the same time, this goes to the very heart of the lack of powers handed to the Judicial Complaints Reviewer and a significant lack of resources for one person to deal with queries and complaints against a 700-plus strong judiciary.
“It would have always been open for Ms Thompson to inform the public about the lack of resources and support for the JCR’s office.
“Moi Ali did a fine job on speaking out in office and speaking to the Scottish Parliament. If more had been said in these past three years, perhaps the JCR role could have been given greater priority with some much needed scrutiny.”
Ali was appointed as Scotland’s first JCR in 2011 but resigned in 2014 saying she got no co- operation from law chiefs.
And documents revealed under f r e e d om of information laws show that in April, Thompson also wrote to Holyrood justice director Nei l Rennick about the lack of support she received.
She said: “In looking back over my experience as JCR, I believe that the lack of any such support did have a detrimental effect on my first 18 months in office from which I seem to have never recovered.”
Another email reveals that she submitted a draft of her 2014-15 report only last November. The report has yet to be published.
In an email to Holyrood staf f, Thompson wrote: “Clearly it is very late but I hope it is a reasonable read.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The priority of the Judicial Complaints Reviewer has been to ensure complaints from members of the public have been properly dealt with, which she has done.”