This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Faculty of Advocates
15/03/2007
Deputy Minister for Justice Johann Lamont announced today the nomination of four non-lawyer members to the Faculty of Advocates Complaints Committee and Disciplinary Tribunal.
These appointments will be for five years and will run from March 1, 2007 until February 28, 2012. Appointments are not remunerated although expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the handling of a complaint are reimbursed by the Faculty.
Mr William Aitken is retired after a career in IT and currently volunteers with the Citizens Advice Bureau where he is an employment specialist. Mr Aitken was a member of the Management Committee for Edinburgh Central CAB from 1996 to 2001, has been a member of Snowsport Scotland since 1980 and is currently president of the Scottish Ski Club.
Mr John Anderson joined the staff of the General Teaching Council for Scotland in 2002, becoming Head of Professional Practice in 2005. Mr Anderson was a member of Edinburgh Children's Panel from 1992 until he retired in December 2006, during which time he held the post of Chair. Since 2002 Mr Anderson has been a member of the Scottish Solicitor's Discipline Tribunal and an assessor with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS). He is also currently a member of the Education Honours Committee.
Mr David Denton is a retired Director of HR. Mr Denton currently volunteers with the Citizens Advice Bureau and has been a member of the Scottish Association for Mental Health since 2000 and was appointed Chair in 2004.
Dr Kevin Smith is a senior lecturer with the University of Strathclyde in the Department of Bioscience. He trained as a scientist and is also an active medical researcher. Dr Smith has been a member of the NHS Lothian Ethics Committee since 2003 and a Peer Reviewer of the NHS Ethics Committees in Scotland since 2004.
The Faculty of Advocates Complaints Committee and Disciplinary Tribunal determine complaints against advocates and impose penalties where appropriate. The Complaints Committee determines complaints at first instance and may remit complaints to the Disciplinary Tribunal which has greater powers at its disposal. A panel of non-lawyer members is nominated by Scottish Ministers to the Faculty for appointment in accordance with the Faculty's Disciplinary Rules 2005.
Although these appointments are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland, public appointment procedures were followed.