Magistrate Disciplined for Refusing to Hear Same Sex Parenting Case

Country: United Kingdom

Date of incident: January 30, 2017


The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office ordered Susan Preston to stand down from hearing future family cases, after she declined to sit on a case involving same-sex parenting due to her personal views.

In a statement, a JCIO spokesman said: "Mrs Susan Preston JP, a magistrate assigned to the South Derbyshire Bench, has been issued with a formal warning following an investigation into her conduct.

"Mrs Preston had declined to adjudicate on a case in the Family Court because of her personal views about same sex couple parenting. "The Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice considered that this amounted to misconduct and have issued Mrs Preston with a formal warning." He added: "Mrs Preston has also been asked to stand down from the family panel with immediate effect."  

Sources: Telegraph and Christian Concern