News

Michael Matheson The Scottish government's plans to end automatic early release of prisoners may be further diluted after an MSP put forward an amendment to proposals which would see prisoners released when they have 12.5 per cent of their sentence remaining.

The latest hedge feud resolved by the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 takes us once again to Stirling where residents in the village of Buchlyvie near the city have won a thirty year battle against a 40-foot monolith and perennial offender – the leylandii. It is the second high-profile case dispat

Calum Liddle New research has suggested freedom of information laws are “past their sell-by date” because institutions either ignore them or claim the law does not apply to them.

Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) has strengthened its marketing team with the appointment of a new PR and content executive. Caroline Young (pictured) brings almost 10 years’ experience of media and corporate communications experience working as an online journalist, press officer and c

Campaigners trying to overturn the election of Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, have lodged a petition at the Court of Session. Following Mr Carmichael's admission he was responsible for a memo suggesting that Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron to be returned to of

A former chairman of the Children's Panel who sexually abused boys he met through the system has been given a 12 year jail sentence. In the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Matthews told Daniel Ross, 62, that he was was guilty of “very grave offences”.

The High Court in London has ordered that a judicial review of the benefit cap and its impact upon disabled people and their carers should proceed to a full hearing, and that this hearing must take place urgently. The secretary of state for work and pensions, Iain Duncan Smith (pictured), unsuccessf

Catriona Watt Anderson Strathern partner Catriona Watt has been elected chair of the 1,000 strong UK Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL).

Drink-driving offences in Scotland have plummeted after a change in the law last year which means drivers can be over the limit after only one pint of beer or glass of wine. Official figures indicate that offences have declined by 17 per cent in the first quarter following the inception of the stric

, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels”. “One can see the advantage of that,” Mr Justice Mostyn observed, “in that it would result in consistency across the continent on what is o

The sheriff overseeing the fatal accident inquiry into the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy has recused himself after realising he was acquainted with one of the victims and known to their family. Sheriff Principal Craig Scott, who oversaw two hearings before the commencement of the FAI next month and whos

Prosecutors in the sheriff and justice of the peace courts are to be given iPads after a £310,000 pilot scheme. The scheme was trialled in Falkirk, Perth and Lerwick sheriff courts beginning in February 2013 – with the intention of rolling it out across Scotland that year.

Bruce Craig Pinsent Masons has appointed litigator Bruce Craig to join its 30-strong oil and gas team in Aberdeen.

What rate should the new Scottish Rate of Income Tax be set at and why?

In preparation for the establishment of the Scottish Sentencing Council (SSC) later this year two Scottish statutory instruments have now been laid before the Scottish Parliament and will come into force on 27 June 2015. The Scottish Sentencing Council (Procedure for Appointment of Members) Regulati