Judge Philip Lancaster has been accused by three more women of bullying during employment tribunal hearings, according to reports. The women claim that the judge belittled and intimidated them during the cases, making them feel inferior and stupid. One of the women stated that she felt Judge Lancaster’s behavior crossed the line into psychological abuse. This comes after a previous BBC report in April where five other women accused Mr. Lancaster of bullying and sexist behavior.
A spokesperson for the Judiciary Office affirmed that judge misconduct allegations can be referred to the Judicial Conduct Investigation Office; however, judges cannot comment on conduct matters due to constitutional arrangements.
Jackie Moore, who represented her daughter in a constructive unfair dismissal and disability discrimination case against her employer in 2022, says she felt “battered, intimidated, and bullied” by Judge Lancaster, adding that this behavior was different from the other judges she had interacted with who were “polite and efficient.”
Another woman who wished to remain anonymous spent seven days in a hearing before Judge Lancaster earlier this year. She claims she felt “fully prepared” as she had spent over a year on her case, only to experience a direct contrast when she was treated by Judge Lancaster, calling it “appalling and degrading, verging on psychological abuse.” Angela Gates, another woman who brought a case of disability discrimination and constructive dismissal against her employer in 2021, felt “like a villain being prosecuted” and believed she did not receive a fair trial.
While appeals can be lodged against any judgment where parties believe there is an error of law or there was an unfair hearing, filing a complaint against a judge in the employment tribunal system is incredibly challenging. Moreover, judge notes are regarded as official court recordings but not obliged to be released. Lastly, proceedings in some tribunals have been recorded since late last year, but there is also no obligation on the court to release the audio or provide claimants with a transcript
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