An employment judge would have been removed from office for inappropriately touching a female member of staff had he not retired, the judicial conduct office has found.
Former employment judge Christopher Gaskell was alleged to have behaved inappropriately toward several junior female tribunal staff members. The behaviour was brought to the attention of the employment tribunals president by HMCTS and referred to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office.
A spokesperson for the JCIO said: ‘The allegations included inappropriate physical contact, maintaining unnecessary physical proximity and inappropriate sexualised behaviour.
‘Judicial office holders should treat others fairly and respectfully, be mindful of the authority they have and be careful not to abuse it, be aware of how their words and behaviour may affect others, and act professionally and courteously.’
Gaskell denied the allegations against him. He stated any physical contact had been ‘inadvertent or misinterpreted’ and ‘rejected suggestions of sexual motivation’. The JCIO said Gaskell ‘raised concerns about the fairness of the investigative process and maintained that the evidence was insufficient to establish misconduct’.
Source:
