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Appointment of Queen's Counsel
14/11/2008
Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of 15 new Queen's Counsel, on the recommendation of First Minister Alex Salmond.
The new appointees are:
Steven Lawrence Stuart, Leo Hofford, Roderick Nicol Thomson, Gerald Carroll, Marian Lindsay Bond Gladstone Gilmore, Ailsa Jane Carmichael, Ruth Crawford, Graham Steven Primrose, Alan William David McLean, Alan Andrew Summers, Jonathan Charles Lake, Murdo Angus Macleod, Sarah Poyntell LaBudde Wolffe, Geoff James Clarke all of whom are members of the Faculty of Advocates; and John David Murray Macara who is a Solicitor Advocate.
Those appointed were nominated by the Rt Hon Lord Hamilton, the Lord Justice General. With the agreement of Lord Hamilton, Sir William Rae acted as an observer of the process and provided the First Minster with a separate report on his findings.
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 other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland.