Mr Swinney made his recommendation for appointment on the basis of a report by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

Lorraine Glancy KC called to the bar in 2005, practising principally as a criminal defence counsel, and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2022. Since 2022 she has served as an advocate depute and senior advocate depute before being appointed assistant principal crown counsel in 2024.

Jonathan Guy trained with the Crown Office, prior to being appointed as a procurator fiscal depute in 2003. In 2006, he joined Anderson Strathern and was made a partner in 2013. He qualified as a solicitor advocate in 2017 and was appointed as a Summary Sheriff in 2020.

Helen McGinty practised as a solicitor, first as a criminal defence agent, and then as a partner in a Law Centre. In 2015, she established her own firm. Her recent practice has been primarily in the fields of mental health and incapacity law, and family law. 

Alan Sinclair trained with Paull and Williamsons in Aberdeen before moving to MacRoberts in Glasgow and subsequently to HBJ Gateley, where he became a partner in 2014 specialising in commercial litigation. He has been a partner with Addleshaw Goddard since a merger with HBJ Gateley in 2017.

Graeme Watson was granted extended rights of audience (civil) in 2007. He undertook his traineeship at Simpson & Marwick WS (now Clyde & Co. (Scotland) LLP) and became a partner in 2008. He led their clinical negligence, professional regulation and historic abuse team. 

Chloe Millar joined the Crown Office in 2007. She has prosecuted in courts across Scotland and held a number of senior posts at Crown Office including the legal assistant to the deputy crown agent and the deputy head of High Court Division.

Michael Meehan KC obtained extended criminal rights of audience in 1999. He called to the bar in 2003 where he engaged in criminal defence work. He was an advocate depute from 2006 to 2009, and a senior advocate depute from 2017 to 2023. He took silk in 2019.

David Bernard joined the Crown Office as a trainee solicitor. As a prosecutor, he undertook a range of roles across Scotland. He was latterly appointed as Sheriffdom Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde in September 2024. 

Euan Gosney was granted rights of audience as a solicitor advocate in 2022. He was a director at Thorley Stephenson Solicitors from 2016 before going on to establish CSG Legal in 2023. 

John McElroy KC began to practise criminal law in Paisley in 1989. He was a founding partner of McCusker McElroy and Gallanagh, Solicitors, Paisley. He became a solicitor advocate (criminal) in 2000. In 2013 he was admitted to Faculty and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2022.

The salary of a sheriff is £167,167 per annum.