Recorder Donald Tait suggests young people more likely to be assaulted because they ‘go out drinking’
The judge warned of misconduct, arguing that young people today are more likely to be attacked for “going out drinking” with people they meet online.
Recorder Donald Tait made the comment before the jury and the complainant after a defendant was acquitted in a criminal trial.
“These days, young people meet people online and go out drinking, waiting for what will happen,” he said after the not guilty verdict was announced.
One of the jurors was “upset” by the comment and filed a formal complaint.
They said they believed Recorder Tait was suggesting that the young complainant should not behave like them because it made them more likely to be attacked.
The juror said they believed the comment upset the complainant and other jurors.
Tait, a recorder working in the south west of England, was given a formal warning for misconduct.
His comment was said to have been “unnecessary, unreasonable and inappropriately critical” and breached the “professionalism and sensitivity” that judges should exercise.
Recorder Tait has since expressed regret for the comment and issued a full apology.
A spokesman for the Office of Criminal Conduct Investigations said: “Recorder Tait accepted that he may have used words attributed to him.
“He stated that such statements were made only after the jury returned a not guilty verdict. He expressed his sincere regret, offered a full apology and confirmed that he had given thought to the matter.
“Following an investigation under the 2023 Rules of Judicial Conduct, a nominated judge found that the comment made by Recorder Tait was unnecessary, unwise and inappropriately critical of both parties in the case and caused distress to the jury.
“The nominated judge concluded that the comment amounted to misconduct and recommended that Recorder Tait receive formal recommendation sanction.
“After careful consideration, the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice agreed with the nominated judge’s finding of misconduct but decided that a more severe sanction than that recommended was appropriate and ordered Recorder Tait to say: [a] official warning.”
