Lord Beckett named new lord justice clerk

Lord Beckett
Lord Beckett is to succeed Lady Dorrian as lord justice clerk.
In his new role he will also hold the office of president of the Second Division of the Inner House and chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council.
A former solicitor general, Lord Beckett was appointed as a judge in May 2016, then elevated to the Inner House in July 2023. He has been involved in work to review court procedures for sexual offence cases, improve trauma training for judges and simplify the guidance given to juries.
Lord Beckett was nominated for appointment by the first minister based on the advice of a selection panel.
First Minister John Swinney said: “I offer my warmest congratulations to Lord Beckett on his appointment as lord justice clerk, reflecting a long and distinguished career of service in Scotland’s legal system.”
Lord Carloway said: “Lord Beckett is a very experienced judge who has presided over some of the highest profile trials in recent times.
“He has been a member of the judiciary, for over 17 years, first as a sheriff then as a High Court judge. He was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session in 2023.
“His extensive knowledge of criminal cases, together with his work on evidence on commission and on case management in the High Court makes him an excellent appointment as lord justice clerk. I wish him well in this extremely important office.”
Lady Dorrian said: “It has been a huge privilege to be lord justice clerk and I am pleased to be handing over to Lord Beckett. He is passionate about improving the experience of complainers and witnesses in court.
“He was part of the working group which I chaired on the management of sexual offence cases which will stand him in good stead for the reforms which will be coming in over the next few years. His experience will also be valuable as he takes over as chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council.
“As a former chair of the Judicial Institute and someone who has been leading the way on trauma-informed training for the judiciary, he is ideally suited for this role.”