Barrister Jonathan James Turner, who practises from Manchester, was ordered to be suspended from practice for six months by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 28 November 2022 following a number of charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The Tribunal ordered that the suspension should not come into effect until after it issued its written reasons and also that Mr Turner pay the BSB’s full costs in the sum of £4680.
The two sets of charges related to two occasions in different Crown Court proceedings in which Mr Turner was found to have recklessly misled the court and the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) in relation to uploading documentation onto the Crown Court Digital Case System. On one occasion Mr Turner uploaded documentation asserting additional material had been served when it had not and on the other occasion the document uploaded gave the impression that an indictment had been preferred when it had not.
The Tribunal found that Mr Turner failed to observe his duty to the court in the administration of justice, that his behaviour could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity and to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him and the profession. In addition, it was found that he failed to take reasonable steps to manage or carry out his practice in such a way as to ensure compliance with his legal and regulatory obligations.
Commenting on the order to suspend Mr Turner from practice, a BSB spokesperson said: “It is not acceptable to mislead the court or the Legal Aid Agency and the sanction of the Tribunal reflects this.”
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Inner Temple in November 1999.
About disciplinary tribunals
The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) is responsible for appointing and administering Disciplinary Tribunals on behalf of the President of the Council of the Inns of Court and its tribunals are independent of the BSB. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
Contact: For all media enquiries call: 07432 713 328 or
