Barrister Richard Miles was ordered to be suspended from practice for ten months by an independent disciplinary tribunal at a hearing which concluded on 23 October, following charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal’s decision comes after Mr Miles posted a number of offensive and disparaging comments about a member of the public on social media.
The tribunal found that Mr Miles acted in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence the public places in him or in the profession.
Commenting on the order to suspend, Sara Jagger, BSB Director of Legal and Enforcement said: “Barristers are obliged not to act in a way that diminishes the trust and confidence the public places in them or the profession. The Tribunal found Mr Miles had breached this obligation and its decision to suspend him shows the serious consequences for barristers that can arise from inappropriate behaviour on social media."
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Richard Miles
Richard Miles was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Gray’s Inn in November 1997.
About disciplinary tribunals
The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate.
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
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