NEWS

She is the new sheriff principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway and today takes up her official duties.

Biography

Sheriff Anwar was appointed as a part-time sheriff in 2011 and a resident sheriff at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2014. She is a designated family law and commercial law sheriff.

She graduated from the University of Edinburgh (LLB Hons) in 1996 and from the University of Oxford (Bachelor of Civil Law) in 1998.

She joined Maclay Murray and Spens in 1998 as a trainee, was admitted as a solicitor in 2000 and became an associate in 2003. From 2009 to 2012 she became a partner and head of litigation for Scotland in a global law firm. 

She co-authored the Civil Bench Book for Sheriffs on behalf of the Judicial Institute and was appointed to the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service Board in 2018.

In 2017, she provided a letter to the children involved in a contact dispute (Patrick v Patrick), which explained her decision in plain simple language. It was praised by those working in family law, and featured in a performance of Letters Live during the Edinburgh International Festival.

Background

Sheriff Principal Anwar was appointed to her position by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister based on a report by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS).

JABS is an independent advisory public body with the role of recommending individuals for appointment to judicial offices within the Board’s remit including judges of the Court of Session, the chair of the Scottish Land Court, sheriffs principal, sheriffs, and summary sheriffs.

The First Minister has statutory responsibility for making recommendations to Her Majesty the Queen and is required by statute to consult the Lord President of the Court of Session before making her recommendation.

Read more about the role of sheriffs principal.

20 April 2020