28 October 2016
Unregistered barrister Ian Millard was ordered to be disbarred by an independent Disciplinary Tribunal at a hearing on Thursday 27 October, following charges brought by the Bar regulator.
The Tribunal's decision follows Mr Millard's posting of a number of tweets on his open Twitter account in November 2014, which the Tribunal found to be "seriously offensive". The tweets were about various groups of people including Jews, pro-Zionists, Muslims and people whom he referred to as "chavs". Mr Millard also made it clear that he was a barrister on his Twitter account at the time of the offensive tweets.
BSB Director of Professional Conduct Sara Jagger said: "The use of such offensive language is incompatible with the standards expected of barristers. The Tribunal rightly found that such behaviour diminishes the trust and confidence the public places in the profession and the decision to disbar Mr Millard reflects this."
Mr Millard is an unregistered barrister who last held a practising certificate in 2007.
Details of the Tribunal outcome can be found on the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service website. The decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Ian Robert Millard
Mr Millard was Called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn in November 1991.
About disciplinary tribunals
The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator, which is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers. These charges are then adjudicated on by BTAS' tribunal panels.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and their professional practice and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
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