APPOINTMENT OF PART-TIME SHERIFFS

19 Feb 2007 03:15 PM

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson today announced the appointment of 11 new part-time sheriffs.

They will help maintain day-to-day business in the courts when full-time sheriffs are unavailable due to annual leave, sick leave or training.

The appointments were recommended by the Judicial Appointments Board.

Cathy Jamieson said:

"At the heart of our court reform programme is the need for an efficient court system delivering effective sentences. It is therefore essential that the sheriff courts should have the resources they require to ensure that cases are dealt with at the appropriate time.

"These new part-time sheriffs will make a very valuable contribution in ensuring that the business of the courts can be maintained when the permanent sheriffs are unavailable for any reason.

"They will be appointed to their new roles at a time when the summary justice system is undergoing major reform. Our Criminal Proceedings Reform Bill, which was passed unanimously by Parliament last month, will deliver swifter, smarter justice in Scotland's lower courts, helping to free up time and resources to concentrate on dealing with more serious offenders who rightly generate the greatest public concern."

The names of those appointed, together with brief biographical notes, are listed below.

Sheriff Colin G McKay

He was appointed as a sheriff in 1990, initially serving as a floating sheriff in North Strathclyde, before becoming a resident sheriff at Kilmarnock in 2001. He will retire as a full-time sheriff in March 2007.

Sheriff Isobel A Poole

She was appointed as a sheriff in 1979 and served throughout at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. She retired in January 2007.

Ian Anderson

Mr Anderson was admitted as a Solicitor in 1979. He is currently a partner with Burness LLP, a commercial law firm. He is also a part-time legal chairman in the Appeals Service and has been a part-time tutor on legal aid at the University of Edinburgh.

David Burns

Mr Burns was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1977 and took silk in 1991. Mr Burns served as an Advocate Depute from 1989 to 1991 and was Defence Counsel in the Lockerbie Bombing case in 2000. He was appointed as a Temporary Judge in 2002 and served for three years and is currently a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (a post he has held since 1998).

Ailsa Carmichael

Miss Carmichael was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1993 and is currently an ad hoc Advocate Depute prosecuting serious crime in the High Court of Justiciary. She also represents the UK Government as a Standing Junior Counsel in the Court of Session, particularly dealing with cases involving immigration and other administrative law. In December 2004, Miss Carmichael was appointed a legally qualified member of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.

David Clapham

Mr Clapham was admitted as a Solicitor in 1981. He then served two years as a court assistant with West Anderson and Company in Glasgow before becoming a sole practitioner in 1984. He served as a Temporary Sheriff between 1998-2000. Mr Clapham is currently an Immigration Judge with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and a legally qualified member with the Tribunal Service dealing with social security, disability, living allowance and attendance allowance appeals.

Fiona Davies

Miss Davies was admitted as a Solicitor in 1990 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1993. She joined Glenrothes Development Corporation in 1990 and Falkirk Council in 1992 handling all aspects of commercial and industrial property work.

Shirley Foran

Mrs Foran was admitted as a Solicitor in 1980. In 1988, she joined Black Hay Solicitors in Ayr, initially as a Senior Assistant with prime responsibility for all court and tribunal work, before becoming a partner in the firm. She is an accredited specialist in family law, family mediation and a Safeguarder.

Derek Livingston

Mr Livingston was admitted as a Solicitor in 1980. He was an assistant with a firm of solicitors which was later taken over by Naftalin Duncan & Co. In 1981 Mr Livingston became a partner in that firm initially dealing with civil and criminal court work and some domestic conveyancing but which now specialises in civil work.

Raymond McMenamin

Mr McMenamin was admitted as a Solicitor in 1982 and as a Solicitor Advocate in 2000. In 1987 he became a partner with Keegan Walker & Co SSC and is now senior partner and head of the criminal litigation department with that firm.

Alasdair Oag

Mr Oag was admitted as a Solicitor in 1973. In 1980 he became a partner in Pollock & Oag and in 1988 set up his own business dealing primarily in criminal court work and domestic conveyancing.

Background:

Part-time sheriffs were first appointed in 2000. They help to maintain the business of the courts when full-time sheriffs are unavailable due to annual leave, sick leave or training. Part-time sheriffs may also assist when the court programme experiences a sharp increase in business which full-time sheriffs cannot handle without assistance. Most part-time sheriffs have other jobs as advocates or solicitors, and contribute on average 40 days a year. Some may offer more service than that, according to their own circumstances.

All the new appointees were recommended by the Judicial Appointments Board at their last open competition for part-time posts. The qualifications required for part-time sheriffs are the same as those for full-time sheriffs. Part-time sheriffs are paid a daily fee for each day of service, currently fixed at £547.

The news release which issued when the Criminal Proceedings Bill was approved by Parliament can be found at: