NEWS
Read our latest news including judicial speeches, consultations and consultation responses.
Published speeches reflect the individual judicial office holder's personal views, unless otherwise stated.
Fifteen new King's Counsel appointed.
Sep 13, 2023
The new appointees are:
Dan Byrne, Advocate;
Alan Caskie, Advocate;
Donald Davidson, Advocate;
Fiona Drysdale, Advocate;
BJ Gill, Advocate;
David Hay, Advocate;
Malcolm McGregor, Advocate;
Mark Mohammed, Advocate;
Susan Ower, Advocate;
Christopher Paterson, Advocate;
Paul Reid, Advocate;
Helen Watts, Advocate;
Christopher Wilson, Advocate;
Alan Cameron, Solicitor Advocate;
Graeme Jessop, Solicitor Advocate.
Background
The rank of King’s Counsel is generally reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in practice in the Supreme Courts. Advocates and Solicitors with Rights of Audience in the Supreme Courts are eligible to apply to the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s senior judge. Before making nominations to the First Minister, the Lord Justice General consults other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland.
The independent observer of the process, Bill Thomson, was appointed with the agreement of the Lord Justice General, Lord Carloway and approval from the First Minister. Mr Thomson provided the First Minster with a separate report on his findings, which is available here:
King’s Counsel Independent Observer’s Report 2023.