Investigation into High Court judge ongoing nearly a year on

A judicial watchdog has yet to conclude an investigation into a High Court judge which began nearly a year ago.

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO), which monitors judges' behaviour, said it was investigating the conduct of Mr Justice Peter Smith in September 2015, after he complained about how his luggage had gone astray after he booked a flight with British Airways - while he was overseeing a case involving the airline.

A spokesman said the investigation is continuing and the judge - who is based in the Chancery Division of the High Court in London - has agreed to "continue to refrain from sitting".

Mr Justice Smith had spelled out the problems he encountered after flying to Florence with his wife during the summer of 2015 in a written ruling on the case - which involved allegations of air cargo charges being fixed. He said in the ruling, published in late July 2015, that he had decided to pass the case to another judge.

He was subsequently criticised by a senior barrister, in a newspaper article, and by Court of Appeal judges.

"The JCIO investigation continues," said the spokesman. "Mr Justice Peter Smith has agreed to continue to refrain from sitting at the present time."