Barrister Cleared of Misconduct Following Inquest Incident
London-based barrister Ramya Nagesh has been cleared of professional misconduct charges after falling asleep during a virtual coroner's inquest. Nagesh, a member of the commercial chambers at Gray’s Inn Square, attributed her condition to post-Covid fatigue, vitamin D insufficiency, and a sleep disorder.
The incident occurred during a 45-minute lunch break of the inquest, where Nagesh began to feel excessively sleepy. Despite the coroner's repeated announcements that the session would resume at 1:30pm, Nagesh was nearly 15 minutes late returning. She fell asleep again in the afternoon session and remained unresponsive for nearly two hours, prompting concerns as she could not be reached by phone, text, or email.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) charged her with undermining public trust in the profession. However, a disciplinary tribunal unanimously accepted the medical evidence presented, concluding that her health conditions impaired her cognition, memory, and insight, rendering her unable to participate fully in the inquest.
Judge Janet Waddicor criticized the BSB for pursuing the case without thoroughly evaluating the medical evidence. The tribunal’s verdict noted the troubling nature of the relentless prosecution despite clear indications of Nagesh’s compromised health.
Nagesh is known for her expertise, including contributions to high-profile cases like the Grenfell inquiry and the Hillsborough inquest. She has also authored a legal academic textbook on sleep disorders titled "A Practical Guide to Insane and Non-Insane Automatism in Criminal Law," available for £49.99 on Amazon.
The BSB has been contacted for further comments on the tribunal’s decision.