JUDGE DISMISSED

A solicitor sitting as a deputy district judge who ignored the refusal by his head of department to grant him time off work so he could be in court was not unfairly dismissed. An employment tribunal held in Lowe v Garratts Solicitors that while the employment contract was permissive, 'it was not carte blanche' and 'it did not permit [Lowe] to sit as and when he wished.' The firm was going through redundancies at the time and Lowe had been asked to dedicate his 'whole time and attention' to firm matters. 11 March 2019