This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Two new judges and a Sheriff Principal
01/11/2002
The first judges and sheriff principal to be appointed
under Scotland's new modern appointment process have been
announced today.
The First Minister has accepted the first ever
recommendations from the new independent Judicial
Appointments Board and has nominated them to The Queen for
appointment. Her Majesty has approved the appointments.
Mr Philip Brodie QC and Mr Alistair Campbell QC have
been appointed as Senators of the College of Justice.
Mr Brodie will take up a vacancy created by the
retirement in September of Rt Hon Lord Coulsfield.
Mr Campbell will take up his appointment in January,
when the Rt Hon Lord Cameron of Lochbroom retires.
The Queen has also approved the appointment of Sheriff
Iain Macphail QC to be Sheriff Principal of Lothian and
Borders in succession to Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson
QC who retires today.
Justice Minister Jim Wallace said:
"A new era has dawned for judicial appointments in
Scotland. Eighteen months have passed since I announced the
creation of a new independent Judicial Appointments Board
to advise Ministers on the appointment of Judges, Sheriffs
Principal and Sheriffs.
"A lot of work has been required to get us to the point
where we are today with a more open and transparent system
that reflects the Executive's commitment to increased
openness in public life.
"These appointments mark a significant departure from
previous arrangements for recommending Judicial
appointments. In the past the Lord Advocate played a key
role in making recommendations. However, the Scottish
Executive believed that it was important to make the system
of appointments more transparent and open and it was
decided to establish an independent Board to interview and
then recommend applicants."
The First Minister said:
"I am very pleased to be able to act on the advice of
the Board which Jim Wallace and I established this year.
All the names submitted to Her Majesty were identified by
the Board as suitable for appointment. Opening up the
process of appointment in this way is a very positive
development
"This is a further sign of our determination to
modernise the legal system in Scotland. Significant
progress has already been made. I made a non political
appointment to the post of Solicitor General. Elish
Angiolini also happened to be the first ever woman and
first ever solicitor to hold the post.
"We have embarked on a radical reform programme for the
Crown Office involving new management structures and large
scale investment. We now have a modern appointment process
for our judiciary. The scale of these reforms should not be
under estimated and I am sure they will enhance public
confindence in our courts."
Biographical Details
Philip Hope Brodie QC
Mr Brodie was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in
1976 and took Silk in 1987. He was Standing Junior Counsel
(Scotland) to the Ministry of Defence (Procurement) and the
Health and Safety at Work Executive from 1963 to 1987. He
was Part-time Chairman of Industrial Tribunals from 1987 to
1991 and Part-time Chairman of Medical Appeal Tribunals
from 1991 to 1996. He was Advocate Depute from 1997 to
1999. In 2002 he was appointed Part-time Chairman of
Employment Tribunals.
Mr Brodie also served as Part-time Commissioner of the
Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland from 1985 to
1996.
Alastair Peter Campbell QC
Mr Campbell was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in
1985. He took Silk in 1995. Before going to the Bar he
served as Procurator Fiscal Depute in the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service.
As Junior Counsel he was appointed First Junior Counsel
to the Inquiry in Lord Cullen's Inquiry into the Piper
Alpha Disaster from 1988-1990, served as Advocate Depute
from 1990 to 1993 and was appointed Temporary Sheriff from
1993 to 1997. In 1995 he was Standing Junior Counsel to HM
Customs and Excise.
During his practice as Senior Counsel Mr Campbell was a
member of the Criminal Justice Forum, the Scottish Criminal
Rules Council and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
He was Home Advocate Depute from 1997 to 1998. From 1999 to
2002 he was leading Crown Counsel at the Scottish Court in
the Netherlands.
Sheriff Iain Duncan Macphail QC
Iain Macphail was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1963. He was Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish
Home and Health Department and the Department of Health and
Social Security.
He was first appointed Sheriff of Glasgow and
Strathkelvin in 1973 and served there until transferring to
the Sheriffdom of Tayside Central and Fife at Dunfermline
and Alloa in 1981. A year later he transferred to the
Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders at Linlithgow where he
remained until becoming Sheriff of Lothian and Borders at
Edinburgh in 1988.
The Judicial Appointments Board comprises of 10 people -
equal numbers of legal and lay members. The individuals
are:
Sir Neil McIntosh, Chairman
Sir Robert Smith
Mrs Barbara Duffner
Professor Alan Paterson
Rt Hon Lord MacLean
Sheriff Principal B Kerr QC
Colin Campbell QC
Sheriff D Allan
Professor Joan Stringer
Mr M Scanlan
The posts were advertised in the national and
professional press. The Board sifted the applications and
interviewed a shortlist of candidates before giving the
First Minister a written report. Mr Brodie and Mr Campbell
were the Board's own preferred choices for the office of
Judge, and Sheriff Macphail was the Board's preferred
choice as Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders.