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Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
19/12/2008
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill today announced that the First Minister is recommending to The Queen the appointment of a new chairman and three new members to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
The new chairman member is Mrs Jean Couper, CBE and the new members are Professor George Livingston Irving, CBE, Mr Gerry Bann and Mr Christopher Michael Shead.
These appointments will be for four years from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2012.
These posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of 425 pounds for the Chairman and 243 pounds per day for the Members for a time commitment of 3 to 4 days per month. Professor Irving holds one other public appointment, that of Member of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, with a daily remuneration of 205 pounds. None of the other new members holds a public appointment.
These public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Gerry Bann canvassed on behalf of the Labour party in a by-election in 2005. None of the other new members have been involved in political activity in the last five years.
Announcing the appointments, Kenny MacAskill said:
"I am very pleased to welcome the appointment of the new Chairman and Members. They are individuals who can bring considerable knowledge and experience to the Commission in the fields of public service, law and criminal justice. I am confident that each will contribute fully to the Commission's work and help to enhance the reputation of the Commission as a key player in the criminal justice system."
Biographical details
Jean Couper
Jean Couper was Chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board from 1998 to 2006 and from 2002 to 2008 was a Commissioner of the Accounts Commission. Since 1990 Mrs Couper has held a number of other public appointments notably Member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board from 1994 to 1998, Member and Vice Chairman of the Health Education Board for Scotland from 1995 to 2002, and member of the Police Advisory Board for Scotland from 2002 to 2007. She is currently Director of K3 Consultants Ltd providing HR strategic, policy and operational advice to local authorities. She is Deputy Chairman of the Ombudsman Service Ltd, Chair of Aberlour Child Care Trust and a Director of the Merchants' House of Glasgow. She was awarded the CBE in 2006 for services to the administration of justice.
Professor George Irving
Professor George L Irving CBE D.Univ MSc CSW FRSA FRSM is a former Director of Social Work and President of the Association of Directors of Social Work (Scotland). He also served in Romania developing child care services and promoting social work education. From 2001 to 2006 he was Chair of NHS Ayrshire and Arran. He led the National Support Team, Management of Offenders 2005-2007. He is the author of a national report "Registering the Risk" concerned with the registration and monitoring of sex offenders. He currently serves on the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and is a Visiting Professor to Glasgow Caledonian University. Professor Irving was awarded a CBE in 2006 for services to the NHS and the people of Ayrshire and has an honorary doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Gerry Bann
Gerry Bann is a solicitor and partner in Adams Whyte, one of Scotland's leading criminal defence firms. Since 1992, he has specialised in criminal court work and has considerable experience in the investigation of offences and the treatment of offenders in a wide variety of cases at District, Sheriff and High Court levels. Between 1996 and 2002, Mr Bann served as Vice Dean and Dean of the Faculty of West Lothian Solicitors. He has participated in meetings of Sheriff & District Court Standing Advisory Groups and in 2006, assisted a multi-agency Steering Group tasked with the introduction of a Summary Justice Pilot Court. Mr Bann has been involved in key cases contributing to the field of Scottish Criminal Law and, in 2008, his legal practice was voted Scottish Criminal Law Firm of the Year.
Christopher Shead
Since being called to the Bar in 1996 Christopher Shead has specialised in criminal law with a particular emphasis on appellate work. He is a member of the Faculty of Advocates' Law Reform Committee and contributes regularly to the journal Scottish Criminal Law. Recently he participated in Lord Coulsfield's review on the law and practice of disclosure. Since the introduction of the Scotland Act 1998 Mr Shead has been involved in a number of appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Between 1993 and 1995 he served as a Procurator Fiscal depute in Edinburgh.
The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission was created by section 194A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, as inserted by section 25 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997. The Commission's role is to consider alleged miscarriages of justice and if, after proper investigation it believes that i) a miscarriage of justice may have occurred and ii) that it is in the interests of justice that a reference should be made, it may refer a case to the High Court for determination. By statute at least one-third of members must be advocates or solicitors of at least 10 years' standing. Two of the new members are legally qualified; the new chairman and the third new member are lay.