This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New appointment process for QCs
20/12/2004
First Minister Jack McConnell has appointed Sir Roy
Cameron, the former Chief Constable of Dumfries and
Galloway and of Lothian and Borders and former HM Chief
Inspector of Constabulary, to act as an independent
observer to the process of appointing Queen's Counsel in
Scotland.
The Lord President of the Court of Sesssion proposed the
appointment of an independent person to observe the
appointment procedure and report to the First Minister on
whether the process was conducted fairly and
objectively.
On the Lord President's recommendation, the FM has also
agreed that a selection process will be run to identify new
candidates for appointment to QC.
Sir Roy will make a written report to Ministers with his
conclusions on the procedure before the FM makes his final
decisions on the Lord President's recommendations.
Mr McConnell said:
"We are committed in Scotland to developing a culture of
openness and accountability within our legal appointments
process. We were, for example, the first part of the UK to
have an independent Judicial Appointments Board.
"Today I can announce that we will build further on that
strong foundation by adding independent scrutiny to the
appointment of individuals to Queen's Counsel. Sir Roy
Cameron is a well-respected figure in Scottish public life,
and his strong track-record of independence in his
professional life will serve us well."
The Lord President will make nominations to the FM after
inviting applications and consulting interested parties on
the names which come forward.