Three new Senators of the College of Justice were today installed at physically distanced ceremonies held in Parliament House. Lord Sandison, Lady Haldane and Lord Richardson will take up their appointments on 1 March 2021.
Search: Scots syndicate 1901 bought land in Glasgow for £5000
The UK government has threatened to go to the Supreme Court to overturn two pieces of legislation which were unanimously backed by MSPs. MSPs last week voted unanimously for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill to become law, making Scotland the fi
It has been announced that there is to be a consultation on the retention/abolition of the 'not proven' verdict. Some of those proposing its removal have prayed in support of their approach a statement by Sir Walter Scott that the verdict is a “bastard verdict”. Others have said that ret
The Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, details his top Session Case: the infamous Moorov v HM Advocate 1930 JC 68. Vote for your top three Session Cases here. Sometimes, a legal rule is identified by the name of the case with which it is associated. In Scots law, none is more famous than the Mooro
The SNP has promised to consult on splitting the dual role of the Lord Advocate if returned to power after next month's election. In its manifesto, the party pledges to "consult on whether the dual functions of [the Lord Advocate], as head of the independent prosecution service and principal legal a
Scots law has had – and continues to have – many influences, from ancient Rome to the modern-day parliaments and courts. European, UK and Scottish legislation all continue to play a part in Scots law albeit that Brexit has greatly diminished the European influence in terms of new EU laws
Dr Kath Murray, Lucy Hunter Blackburn and Lisa Mackenzie of MurrayBlackburnMackenzie cast a critical eye over the Yogyakarta principles. Launched last week, the Scottish Green Party manifesto sets out a commitment to "enshrining the Yogyakarta human rights principles into Scots law", as pa
Lady Rae has been elected Rector of the University of Glasgow.
Alistair Bonnington, of Quis, questions the reasoning behind calls to scrap the 'not proven' verdict. Amongst the free bikes, free laptops and the like, we find Nicola Sturgeon's manifesto for May's election also suggesting that the Scots 'not proven' verdict will have to go. For a long time i
The latest edition of the Edinburgh Student Law Review has been published, featuring a guest article from Roman law expert Professor Paul du Plessis on the point of legal historical scholarship. Other articles include:
The Scottish Law Commission today has published a discussion paper on updating the mental element in homicide. The crimes of murder and culpable homicide are generally regarded as the most serious of all crimes in Scots law, in terms of gravity and impact on victims and their families.
Three lawyers have joined Blackadders’ commercial property team. Andy Yule has been appointed as a director in Edinburgh while in Glasgow Richard Duffy has taken up a senior solicitor role and Natalia Bell has joined as a solicitor.
Dorothy Bain QC is to be Scotland's next Lord Advocate, while Ruth Charteris QC will take up the role of Solicitor General. If the Scottish Parliament approves the nominations, Ms Bain will replace James Wolffe QC who will demit office once Her Majesty The Queen has signed the warrant appointin
Staff and members of the legal profession gathered to say farewell to Sheriff Lindsay Foulis, who has retired after 20 years on the bench. Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis paid tribute to the outgoing sheriff while the Society of Procurators and Solicitors in the City and County of Perth also th
Scotland's legal system does not comply with international environmental and human rights law, according to UN findings. Article 9 of the Aarhus Convention, which the UK ratified in 2005, requires that access to review procedure over environmental matters should be fair, equitable, timely, and not p