WRC dismisses complaint against Judge Raymond Groarke as misconceived

The WRC dismissed Olumide Smith’s Equal Status complaint against The Hon. Mr. Justice Raymond Groarke as misconceived, finding it had no jurisdiction to investigate or adjudicate it; the merits were not decided. Smith alleged race discrimination during court proceedings. The Courts Service said judges are constitutional judicial office holders and that judicial decision-making was not a service under the Equal Status Act. The decision was dated 7 October 2021. The adjudicator found judicial decision-making was not a service or facility under the Act and that a judge was immune from suit for that function.