Tribunal Judge Alex Hobbs Sanctioned for Misconduct - 16-Week Decision Delay

Detected April 8th, 2026

Summary

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office found that Tribunal Judge Alex Hobbs committed misconduct by issuing a decision notice 16 weeks after a child maintenance service tribunal hearing. The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor issued Hobbs with formal advice for misconduct, the least severe sanction available for judicial office-holders. The investigation noted Hobbs had not informed parties of the delay, failed to respond to multiple chase emails, and only issued the decision after a complaint was made.

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What changed

Judge Alex Hobbs of the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal received formal advice for misconduct after a 16-week delay in issuing a decision notice following a child maintenance service tribunal hearing. The JCIO investigation found that Hobbs failed to keep parties informed, did not respond to multiple chase emails from the tribunal, and did not inform his leadership judge to request writing time. The decision notice was only produced after a complaint was made. The lady chief justice and the lord chancellor issued the formal advice, which is the least severe sanction for judicial misconduct.

This case serves as a reminder that judicial office-holders must prioritise timely decision-making and maintain open communication with parties. While Hobbs' unblemished record, remorse, and steps to prevent future delays were noted favourably, the outcome demonstrates that procedural failures in case management can result in formal disciplinary action. Tribunal judges and judicial office-holders should ensure robust diary systems and timely responses to administrative correspondence.

What to do next

Review tribunal decision timelines and ensure compliance with required issuance periods
Implement clear diary management systems for tracking decision notice deadlines
Establish communication protocols to keep parties informed of case status

Source document (simplified)

A tribunal judge has been issued with formal advice for misconduct after he issued a decision notice nearly four months after the hearing.

Source: iStock

A complaint was made about Alex Hobbs, of the social security and child support tribunal, in issuing a decision notice following a child maintenance service tribunal hearing. The decision notice remained outstanding at the time of the complaint and was not provided until ‘nearly four months after the hearing’, a spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said.

Hobbs apologised to the parties and accepted responsibility for the delay.

The JCIO said: ‘He attributed the delay to pressure of work and acknowledged that he had not given the matter the priority it deserved. He also confirmed that he had taken steps to more clearly diarise decision notices to prevent similar delays in future.’ An investigation found the 16-week delay in issuing the decision notice amounted to misconduct.

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[Shouting magistrate issued with formal advice for misconduct](https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/magistrate-given-formal-advice-for-shouting/5126007.article?_gl=11w5xho9_upMQ.._gaMTcyODY0ODc1NC4xNzc0NjMzOTk2gaLPF4PE6ZB2czE3NzQ2MzM5OTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzQ2MzQwNzQkajU0JGwwJGgyMDQ2NjkxMjk0gaT9B48VKB23czE3NzQ2MzM5OTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzQ2MzQwNzQkajU0JGwwJGgwgaVTZWF13LJ0czE3NzQ2MzM5OTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzQ2MzQwNzQkajU0JGwwJGgwga54TJ9VJQYRczE3NzQ2MzM5OTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzQ2MzQwNzQkajU0JGwwJGgwgaM6CW48FCF6czE3NzQ2MzM5OTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzQ2MzQwNzQkajU0JGwwJGgw)* Hobbs' unblemished conduct record, remorse and demonstration of insight was noted by the investigation, as well as his acceptance of responsibility, his apologies and the steps he had taken to prevent a delay happening again.

The investigation noted it ‘was not a case of excessive delay’. However, Hobbs had ‘failed to keep the parties informed, did not respond to multiple chaser emails from the tribunal, did not inform his leadership judge of the matter to request writing time and.. the decision notice was only produced after the complaint was made’.

The lady chief justice and the lord chancellor issued Hobbs with formal advice for misconduct, the least severe sanction for misconduct by judicial office-holders.