Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested information from the Office of Judicial Complaints (OJC), an associated office of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), relating to a complaint made about Recorder Cherie Booth. The MoJ disclosed some information but withheld the remainder citing the exemptions in sections 21 (information accessible by other means), 31(1)(c) and (g) (law enforcement), 32 (court records), 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) and 36(2)(c) (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs), 40(2) (personal information), 42(1) (legal professional privilege) and 44(1)(a) (prohibitions on disclosure) of the Act. The Commissioner finds that the public authority applied the exemptions provided by sections 44 and 36 correctly. However, the Commissioner also finds that the public authority breached section 17 of the Act (refusal of request). He requires no steps to be taken. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2011/0277 has been disposed of by way of a consent order.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 17 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 36 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 44 - Complaint Not upheld