Kapil Summan

SLN's editor reviews Trials of the State: Law and the Decline of Politics by Jonathan Sumption. Though apt to be caricatured as some sort of anti-judge in the post-prorogation world, iconoclast jurist Jonathan Sumption—in this, his first popular legal book—echoes Montesquieu wh

The Society of Solicitor Advocates has expressed opposition to the suggestion by the Scottish government that juries be abolished in solemn trials for the duration of the coronavirus emergency. The option, which was tabled again by the Scottish government last week but which is not expected to appea

Despite a furious backlash from the legal profession, the Scottish government is still actively considering the suspension of jury trials.

A recommendation that legal services in Scotland be independently regulated has been condemned as poorly researched, flawed in its conclusions and as contributing nothing of use to the debate over the Roberton Review.

A former senior judge has said efforts should be made to preserve jury trials during the pandemic after the Scottish government attempted to pass legislation allowing solemn trials to be conducted without juries. Crossbench peer Lord Hope of Craighead's comments come after the governm

The Scottish government is attempting to give ministers the power to allow solemn trials to be conducted without juries and to "dismantle in one fell swoop more than 600 years of legal principle" in a move described as a "knee-jerk reaction" at best and something "far more sinister" at worst. The Sc

People wishing to take oaths remotely have been asked to provide their own holy book or scripture. Oaths, for the religious, and affirmations, for the irreligious, must now, of course, be made over Skype, Zoom or another VoIP service.

The UK government's reaction to the coronavirus pandemic should be investigated after the emergency has abated but any legal action brought against it will face "high hurdles", lawyers have told Scottish Legal News. Boris Johnson's government is widely believed to have made a U-turn on its

Scottish Legal News was pleased to attend a recent event in Edinburgh organised by the Scottish Young Lawyers’ Association and hosted by the Society of Solicitors of the Supreme Court in Scotland where we heard from current Supreme Court judicial assistant (JA), Francesca Ruddy and former

An outgoing Supreme Court justice has issued two "caveats" to "anyone" thinking of politicising judicial appointments to the UK's highest court – namely that the court deals with very few political cases and that observers often "get things wrong". At his valedictory ceremony yesterday, Lord C

An outgoing Supreme Court justice has issued two "caveats" to "anyone" thinking of politicising judicial appointments to the UK's highest court – namely that the court deals with very few political cases and that observers often "get things wrong". At his valedictory ceremony yesterday, Lord C

Three years after a defamation action was brought against him, Scottish Greens MSP Andy Wightman has been vindicated by a judge in the Court of Session. Lord Clark in the Outer House found, among other things, that the allegedly defamatory statements of Mr Wightman lacked the meaning the "ordinary r

The woman who was told "over and over" not to go to the bar, yet who ultimately became Scotland's first female judge, has spoken about her path to the bench. In the latest episode of the University of Glasgow Law Podcast, Lady Cosgrove speaks to senior lecturer Maria Fletcher.

The Lord President, the Lord Lyon and a constitutional law expert are among the newest fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The 2020 fellows "comprise leading thinkers and experts from Scotland and around the world".

Sheriffs, summary sheriffs and lawyers at Glasgow Sheriff Court are to stop routinely wearing wigs and gowns in civil proceedings. Practitioners should hang up their court dress from March 2, a practice note from the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin states.