The senior coroner for Essex has been given an official warning of misconduct for allegedly delaying an inquest.
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) also found Caroline Beasley-Murray failed to keep 'interested parties', which include a deceased person's loved ones and witnesses, notified about a case.
It found Mrs Beasley-Murray delayed the inquest of Edward Gillespie, 38, of Rosslyn Crescent, Luton.
Mr Gillespie's body was recovered from water at Roydon Marina Village, Harlow, on January 26, 2013, after he went missing from an office Christmas party a month earlier.
The JCIO declined to explain how or why it thinks Mrs Beasley-Murray delayed the inquest.
An Essex County Council spokesman, on behalf of the coroner's office, however said the limited availability of expert reports was causing the delay.
The family who initially submitted the complaint has since withdrawn it.
The spokesman said: "Inquests are an emotional and sensitive time and we seek to minimise any delays that may occur.
"In this instance the availability of expert reports resulted in a delay in the conclusion of the inquest.
"The HM Senior Coroner for Essex has since spoken to the family, the inquest has been successfully concluded and the family had requested that the complaint was withdrawn.
"Together Essex County Council and the HM Senior Coroner for Essex have worked hard to improve the timeliness of inquests, which has been helped by the new court complex in December."
The spokesman also denied that Mrs Beasley-Murray had been placed on restricted duties. Deputy assistant coroner Eleanor McGann has been taking inquests over the last few months.
A coroner is responsible for establishing how a person has died.
In this case Mrs Beasley-Murray ruled Mr Gillespie died as a result of an "accident".
