Plans submitted for a new justice centre in Inverness are the latest move in a programme of court closures and changes to the delivery of legal services in Scotland’s justice system. There are currently 43 courts operating in Scotland, 39 sheriff and justice of the peace courts, the Court of Sessi
Search: Scots syndicate 1901 bought land in Glasgow for £5000
An additional £131,000 has been provided to allow further renovations of the Sir Walter Scott Courthouse to take place. Built in 1803 as the Sheriff Court, it is where the famed author dispensed justice to the people of Selkirkshire.
An exhibition charting the dynamic and creative relationship between Sir Walter Scott and the artist, J M W Turner, is a summer attraction at Abbotsford, Scott’s home in the Scottish Borders. Two of the most influential figures in British history, the men became business partners and, in spite
Two teenagers who were given custodial sentences after one pled guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner and the other admitted a charge of assault have had their appeals against the sentences imposed rejected. The appellants claimed that the sheriff failed to properly take into accoun
Dr Sophie Flemig has been appointed to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Board. Dr Flemig is the chief executive of Cattanach, an independent funder supporting work with infants and very young children. Before this she was the director of public policy at the Scottish Legal Complaints Commis
Human rights lawyer John Scott QC was an obvious choice when Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone was looking for someone to scrutinise the force’s use of emergency coronavirus powers. Having already reviewed how Scottish police dealt with the miners’ strike as well as how th
The Law Society of Scotland has raised issues over solicitors' ability to perform their jobs properly in courts with the courts service. Amanda Millar, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said practitioners had expressed concern with the current arrangements and "their ability to play a full a
An international celebration of the 250th anniversary of the life and works of Sir Walter Scott is being launched this month. On World Storytelling Day on March 20 the night sky at Smailholm Tower, in the Borders, will be lit up at an event organised by Abbotsford, Scott’s home near Melrose, a
When Janys Scott QC was asked to represent 27 church leaders in a case relating to whether the Covid-induced closure of churches was lawful, she jumped at the chance. It was, she says, not only an opportunity to test a novel point of law but to explore questions relating to her own faith as well. &l
For someone who decided to become a lawyer partly because it’s what his parents wanted him to do, John Scott QC has carved out a long and illustrious career in the profession. He has been involved in some of Scotland’s most high-profile inquiries and cases since starting out as a trainee
Andy Hornby and James Crosby, the former HBOS bosses who were under investigation for their part in the failure of banking group in 2008, have been let off without penalty. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have completed protracted joint investigat
The family of the late Bon Scott, frontman of AC/DC, has prevailed in a legal dispute with a sportswear brand over trademark rights to his name. The estate of the Scottish-born rock icon had sought to register his name as a trademark for merchandise commemorating his legacy. The proposed line includ
Dr David Caddick has been appointed to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) board. Dr Caddick was appointed as a JP on the Inverness Bench in 2018. He holds an undergraduate degree, three masters degrees and a PhD and was awarded an MBE in 1995.
Several Sheriffs contacted SLN recently to report that they were not receiving their daily Scottish Legal News newsletter. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has investigated and found that security filters had wrongly identified SLN as "spam". SCTS has now made the necessary adjustmen
A charity led by Scottish lawyer Mary Sharpe has made submissions to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in a landmark case concerning restrictions on porn in Texas. Texas law HB 1181, signed into law last year, imposes strict age verification requirements on websites containing "sexual