Immigration judges tell how they are living on diet of baked beans and Pot Noodles as 'zero hour contracts' force them into debt and to claim benefits

Immigration judges are living on a diet of baked beans and pot noodles, and claim they would fare better if they worked at McDonalds. 

Six judges who spoke to the The Times claimed they and their colleagues had been forced into debt, or have had to sell or remortgage their homes as a result of their contracts.   

The problem has been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of many court dates during lockdown before the service moved online. 

The pandemic is to blame for a record breaking backlog in cases.

One judge said they knew of two others who had claimed universal credit, while another said the situation had contributed to the breakdown of their marriage. 

Six judges who spoke to the newspaper anonymously claimed that they and their colleagues had been forced into debt, or have had to sell or remortgage their homes. 

Another said they were forced to remortgage their home, and live on a diet of baked beans and instant noodles to make ends meet. 

In a normal year, the judge would expect to sit at least 120 days.

They said that between March and December 2020, they had one hearing and had sat just 11 times. 

The judges claim that part time, fee paid immigration judges are discriminated against in their terms and conditions. 

As outlined in their contracts, part time judges do not earn unless they hear cases, and receive £500 each day that they sit. 

The Ministry of Justice said advanced payments were introduced during the pandemic to support fee-paid judges and remote hearings 

But, they allege that the payment does not cover preparing for cases, which can involve reading lengthy court documents, and say they receive less money is a case is adjourned or does not go ahead. 

They also miss out on the benefits that their full time colleagues enjoy including sick and annual leave.   

As a result of the pandemic, they also say they have had to purchase their own equipment in order to download documents and hear cases virtually, leaving them out of pocket.  

In a further blow, judges who fall into financial difficulties can find themselves the subject of disciplinary proceedings due to anti-corruption rules. 

One told The Times: 'We are all in dire debts. We should all be reporting ourselves. I am worried sick about being taken to court for debt by the Ministry of Justice and losing my judicial position, and equally ashamed to claim welfare benefits. Who would believe that a judge has to claim welfare benefits?'

The Ministry of Justice's approach could result in miscarriages of justice, the judge's claim, because financial pressures could make them less likely adjourn cases. 

The Judicial Support Network confirmed that 'a number of fee-paid judges' have contacted them, and that some have 'suffered great hardship.'  

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: 'During the pandemic we introduced advanced payments to support fee-paid judges and remote hearings to increase the number of sitting days, while we reopened hearing centres as soon as it was safe to do so.'