News

Catherine Smith KC was sworn in as advocate general for Scotland at a ceremony at the Court of Session.

Lord Clark has been appointed to the First Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session. The Lord President, Lord Carloway, and the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian, recommended the appointment to allow court business to continue to be dealt with efficiently and effectively.

An American judge who was temporarily removed from the bench after he humiliated a teenage girl who fell asleep during a classroom visit to his court has been demoted to dealing with speeding tickets. Judge Kenneth King was ordered to undertake social-emotional training by the chief judge of Detroit

Womble Bond Dickinson's (WBD) sustainability programme has been recognised once again after the firm retained its gold certification from EcoVadis for a third consecutive year. EcoVadis assesses criteria across four themes: labour & human rights, ethics, environment and sustainable procurement w

A pensioner couple are seeking judicial review of government cuts to the winter fuel payment. Peter and Florence Fanning, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire have raised proceedings in the Court of Session against the the Scottish government and the UK Work and Pensions Secretary with the help of Govan

To assist with jury trials in the High Court, the following sheriffs have been appointed by the Scottish ministers to act as temporary judges: These appointments are effective from 1 October 2024.

For the very first time in the UK, a dedicated undergraduate course in Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights is being offered at Edinburgh Law School. Economic, social, and cultural (ESC) rights are fundamental human rights that are necessary to live a dignified life that is free from fear and want.

A man linked to serious organised crime who discussed in encrypted mobile phone messages making enough money from drugs-trafficking to buy 100 flats has been jailed for seven years. John McDuff, 40, also agreed with a criminal associate’s claim that they were responsible for operating the most

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Humanity has been a casualty in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

A unique collaboration between an investigative journalist and an experienced criminal trial counsel has recently been launched on BBC Sounds. Inside Murder Trial: A Deadly Affair takes listeners inside the Inverness courtroom in which one of the most long-awaited murder trials in Scotland’s h

Information on community sentences and other court interventions across Scotland are included in a new online directory developed by Community Justice Scotland.  The directory aims to provide sheriffs, defence agents, the Crown Office and social workers with information on local and national sp

Courts in Argentina and Venezuela have issued arrest warrants for each other's presidents. A Caracas court issued the warrant for the arrest of Argentinian president, Javier Milei, accusing him of the “theft” of a cargo plane belonging to the Venezuelan company Emtrasur, which was seized

Clyde & Co recently welcomed over 50 representatives from the insurance industry to its 2024 Scottish Liability Forum, which was held in Glasgow.

Shoosmiths has supported Watkin Jones in securing its plans for what will become Scotland's tallest residential building. The firm advised the developer and manager of residential for-rent properties on its recent planning agreement for The Àrd – a 784-bed, purpose-built student accommo

An 88-year-old man who spent nearly 50 years on death row has been acquitted in Japan. Iwao Hakamada was sentenced to death in 1968 after being convicted of murder and arson in connection with the killing of his boss and his boss's family two years previously.