Yet more embarrassment for public figures in the news. Simple image scanning technology deployment and education as to appropriate usage of the email network could have prevented the harm to the individuals involved and the PR damage to the public institution.
The full article by Sara Nichol in the Chronicle Live 17 March 2015 follows:
District Judge and Recorder Peter Bullock, from the North Eastern Circuit, has been removed from office A North East judge is among three that have been sacked for viewing porn.
Deputy District Judge and Recorder Peter Bullock has been removed from office after looking at pornographic material via his official IT account, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office has said.
He was one of three judges, although none of the cases are linked, to be sacked
The pornography was not illegal in content, a spokesman added.
However the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice concluded it was an “inexcusable misuse” of their official accounts and “wholly unacceptable conduct for a judicial office holder”.
A fourth judge resigned before the official inquiry had concluded.
District Judge and Recorder Bullock, of the North Eastern Circuit, District Judge Timothy Bowles and Immigration Judge Warren Grant were all removed from office.
A fourth judge, Recorder Andrew Maw, was also found to have viewed similar inappropriate material via his judicial IT account.
Judge Maw worked at Lincoln County Court, District Judge Bowles at Romford County Court and Judge Grant at the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, based at Taylor House in London.
The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice would have removed Recorder Maw had he not resigned before the conclusion of the disciplinary process.
It is a question of whether of not the judiciary system is being drawn into disrepute, he said.
He added: “There’s no suggestion at all that the judges have done anything illegal, it is a question of conduct.”
He said the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) “carefully monitors” judicial conduct.
A spokesman for the JCIO said that the judges would no longer be allowed to work in a judicial role.
He said: “As far as I’m aware the judges are not appealing the decision.”
There is no suggestion, however, that the judges did anything illegal.
District Judge and Recorder Bullock has worked in many courts across the North East, including Newcastle Crown Court and Civil Court and many of the region’s county courts.