This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Resignation of Sheriff
28/01/2005
Sheriff Hugh Neilson has submitted his resignation from
the office of sheriff at Hamilton.
Scottish Ministers have accepted the sheriff's
resignation.
Sheriff Neilson has been the subject of an investigation
into fitness for office conducted, on behalf of Ministers,
by the Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk.
The Lord President has advised Ministers that his
investigation was not completed before Sheriff Neilson's
resignation and accordingly the senior judges will not be
submitting a report to Ministers as the investigation has
been terminated.
In September 2004, the Minister for Justice asked the
Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk to undertake an
investigation into the fitness for office of Sheriff
Hugh Neilson.
At the conclusion of their investigation, the senior
judges would have been required to submit a report to
Ministers either (a) that the sheriff was fit for office or
(b) that he was unfit for office by reason of inability,
neglect of duty or misbehaviour.