'Rude' and 'unprofessional' barrister suspended

On 15 June, Jacqueline Vallejo was suspended from practice for four months by an independent disciplinary tribunal meeting, after the Bar Standards Board (BSB) brought a charge of professional misconduct. The tribunal found Vallejo had repeatedly behaved in a rude and unprofessional manner towards a trial judge. A BSB spokesperson said: “Hearings can often be stressful and challenging and barristers must be able to defend their clients robustly. However, the conduct of the barrister in this case went beyond robustness and interfered with the administration of justice”. The decision is open to appeal.