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This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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New part-time sheriffs appointed

26/07/2005

The appointment of 21 new part-time sheriffs to serve the Scottish Courts has been announced.

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland were asked to consider applications from individuals seeking appointment to a part-time shrieval post and in June this year submitted its recommendations to the First Minister. Mr McConnell accepted the recommendations and 21 individuals have now been appointed who will begin work in the courts during the coming weeks.

Background information on the new appointees:

• Robert B Anthony (43) has been practising at the Scottish Bar and a member of the Faculty of Advocates since 1988. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1984 and as a QC in 2002.
• Dorothy R Bain (41) was admitted as a solicitor in 1987 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1994. She has been an Advocate Depute with the Crown Office Edinburgh since November 2001 and a Senior Advocate Depute since January 2004.
• Andrew Berry (49) has been practising in all areas of criminal law since 2002 with Berry & Co. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1978 and as a solicitor advocate in 1994.
• Richard A F Clark (55) was admitted as a solicitor in 1973 and as a solicitor advocate in 1999. He has been a partner in the litigation department with Maclay Murray & Spens since 1977.
• Charlotte W B Coutts (40) was admitted as a solicitor in 1990 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1991. She has also acted as an ad hoc Advocate Depute.
• Sheriff Margaret Gimblett (65) recently retired as a sheriff of North Strathclyde. Has been a full time sheriff for 10 years and was admitted as a solicitor in 1974.
• Jacqueline M Harris (42) has been a partner with McGrigors Edinburgh since 1998. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1988.
• Sheriff A Graham Johnston (61) recently retired as a sheriff of Glasgow and Strathkelvin after 23 years service. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1971.
• Daniel Kelly (47) was admitted as a solicitor in 1981 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1991.
• Desmond J Leslie (50) has been a partner since 1985 with Lambie Law and a tutor in criminal advocacy skills. He was admitted as a solicitor in July 1982.
• Charles N Macnair (50) has been practising at the bar since 1988. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1980. to the faculty of advocates in 1988 and was appointed as a QC in 2002.
• Mhari S Mactaggart (42) founded her own firm in 1995. During this time she has been employed by the University of Glasgow to assist in the training of members of the Children's Panel. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1986.
• Thomas McCartney (46) was admitted as a solicitor in November 1981 and as a solicitor advocate in June 2004. He has been specialising in civil and family law since 1999 in his own firm in Glasgow.
• Colin B McClory (53) has been a Procurator Fiscal Depute in Glasgow, Paisley and Edinburgh. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1976 and as a solicitor advocate in 1998.
• Richard H McFarlane (58) was admitted as a solicitor in 1974 and has been a tutor in the Criminal Advocacy Diploma Course with the University of Dundee since 1991.
• Thomas S Millar (51) has been a partner with John Henderson & Sons since 1987. He was admitted as a solicitor in November 1976 and is an accredited specialist in family law and an accredited family mediator.
• Alan D Miller (45) was admitted as a solicitor in 1983 and has been a self employed consultant in Child Law and Youth Justice since February 2005. He was previously a Principal Reporter with the Scottish Children's Reporter for 10 years.
• Peter Paterson (50) has been a partner with Tods Murray Edinburgh since 2000 as Head of Litigation. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1980 and as a solicitor advocate in 2002.
• Norman C Ritchie (48) was admitted as a solicitor in December 1980 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1990. He was appointed as a QC in 2003 and has been a self employed advocate since January 2004.
• Janys M Scott (52) was admitted as a solicitor in 1987 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1992.
• Wendy A Sheehan (37) has been a partner with Mowat Hall Dick Edinburgh since 2000 specialising in Family Law. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1991.

A part-time sheriff provides cover for permanent sheriffs who may be absent on leave or on judicial training and to assist in the throughput of business coming before the courts.

The office of part-time sheriff was created under the terms of the Bail, Judicial Appointments etc (Scotland) Act 2000.

They are paid at a rate of £530 per day.

These new appointments follow a recruitment exercise carried out by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. The Board invited applications for those interested in appointment as a part-time sheriff and a notice was advertised in the national and legal press.

A shortlist of applicants was interviewed by panels comprising four Board members. The panel report was agreed by the full Board and submitted to the First Minister, who accepted its recommendations.

The list of successful candidates contains two former permanent sheriffs. They will start work almost immediately whilst the others will undertake some induction training before they appear in the courts.