This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Appointment of Queen’s Counsel
29/09/2003
Her Majesty The Queen has
approved the appointment of a number of new Queen's
Counsel, on the recommendation of First Minister Jack
McConnell. The new appointees
are:
Professor Gerard Maher, Ronald Comyn
Watson, Mhairi
Robertson Richards, Norman
Cochrane Ritchie, Johanna May Johnston, Sean Francis
Murphy, Robert Anderson McCreadie, and Martin Jones all of
whom are members of the Faculty of Advocates and George
Kuthy Moore who is a Solicitor Advocate.
Those appointed were
first nominated by the Rt Hon Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, the
Lord Justice General.
The rank of Queen's
Counsel is generally reserved for those who have
distinguished themselves in practice in the Supreme
Courts. Advocates and Solicitors with Rights of Audience
in the Supreme Courts are eligible to apply to the Lord
Justice General, Scotland's senior Judge.
Before making recommendations, the Lord
Justice General consults others judges, the Dean of the
Faculty of Advocates, the Lord Advocate and the President
of the Law Society of Scotland.
The recommendation of
Professor Gerard Maher reflects his contribution to the
study and development of Scots Law, both as an academic and
as a member of the Scottish Law Commission.
Mr George Kuthy Moore is the third solicitor
advocate to be recommended.
His practice is with HMB Sayers of
Glasgow.
The First Minister has
accepted all recommendations of the Lord Justice General.
The Partnership Agreement, published by the
coalition, included a commitment to ensure that, in future,
Queen's Counsel would be appointed in a more open and
independent way.
The First Minister has indicated that this
will be the last round of appointments on the present basis
which involves limited consultation undertaken by the Lord
Justice General.