A general view of Westminster Magistrates Court, London (Rick Findler/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)One of Britain’s most senior judges has received an official rebuke for making politically-charged comments during a court hearing.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, who sits on high-profile cases at Westminster magistrates court, has been issued with formal advice from the Lord Chief Justice over the incident.
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) published a statement on Friday about the discplinary action, but withheld details of the remarks, when they were made, or which hearing they were made in.
A spokesperson said: “The Lord Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) Paul Goldspring with formal advice for making remarks during a hearing which gave the impression that he was endorsing a contentious political cause.
“In reaching their decision, they took into account that, with hindsight, the judge had accepted his remarks were capable of giving such an impression and had expressed his regret.”
Judge Goldspring was appointed to the top job in February last year, replacing Emma Arbuthnot when she was promoted to the Family Division of the High Court.
He oversaw the sentencing hearing of two men who accosted Chris Whitty during a pandemic lockdown, and presided over the harassment trial of former Labour MP Claudia Webbe.
In his role, Judge Goldspring often takes on high-profile first court appearances, including the recent ones involving former Met PC Wayne Couzens and boxer David Haye.
He was also the judge who formally sent the extradition of Julian Assange from Westminster magistrates court to the Home Secretary for a final decision.
When asked for further details on the sanction to Judge Goldspring, the JCIO said it could not release any more details.
