South Devon Magistrate reprimanded for sharing ‘transphobic’ video

A prominent South Devon magistrate and councillor has been handed an official reprimand for sharing a video which was deemed to be ‘transphobic’.

Jane Taylor was censured by an independent watchdog after sharing the YouTube video on a WhatsApp group.

Mrs Taylor, who is the vice-chair of Kingskerswell Parish Council, said the complaint was politically motivated and intended to suppress debate.

She said it was part of a campaign to discredit her for standing up for the rights of women and girls.

She served as a police officer for 30 years and is a former Chief Inspector. She also serves on Teignbridge Council and is a Justice of the Peace on the South and West Devon Bench.

The issue stemmed from a complaint referred to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) after Mrs Taylor shared the video which contained commentary which the JCIO said could be considered transphobic.

After it was shared in a Kingskerswell Parish Council WhatsApp group a member of the group said it contained language that could be perceived as transphobic or offensive.

Mrs Taylor said it was about single-sex provision and did not concern transgender issues. And, she said, it was not transphobic and did not use transphobic language.

She said she had shared the video at the request of other councillors. It was about the protection of single-sex spaces, a subject on which she has campaigned in her capacity as a councillor, and not about transgender issues.

As a member of Teignbridge Council, she has led a campaign for single-sex spaces at the newly-revamped Teignmouth Leisure Centre.

She said the video also contained the views of a third party which she could not comment on, but she maintained that her own views were not discriminatory.

The complaint was investigated under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, and a nominated committee member found that Mrs Taylor had associated herself with views which may be considered transphobic. They could also cast doubt on her integrity and impartiality.

It was also found that Mrs Taylor had shared the video without properly considering its impact despite being aware of its content, and then ‘unapologetically defended’ sharing it.

This, said the committee member, demonstrated a lack of due diligence and insight. It amounted to serious misconduct and warranted the reprimand.

In a statement Mrs Taylor said: “I am currently awaiting legal advice so I am unable to comment on the finding of the Judiciary.

“However, as published in the ruling, I consider this complaint to be politically motivated and part of a campaign to discredit me because I continue to stand up for the rights of women and girls.”

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: “Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mrs Jane Taylor JP of the South and West Devon Bench with a reprimand for misconduct.”

The findings can be found here.