NEWS

The appointments will take effect from 24 August 2026.

Commenting on the appointments, the Lord President said:

“I would like to thank Sheriff Principal Anwar KC and Sheriff Principal Murphy KC for their significant contributions to the work of the Sheriff Appeal Court.  Their leadership, expertise and dedication have been greatly valued.

"I am grateful to Sheriffs Principal Wade KC and Dowdalls KC for taking on the roles of President and Vice President.  Both bring considerable judicial experience to their new roles, and I am confident that they will provide strong leadership for the court and continue its important work in serving the people of Scotland.”

The Sheriff Appeal Court deals with appeals in civil cases from the sheriff courts and hears summary criminal appeals from both the sheriff and justice of the peace courts. As President and Vice President, Sheriff Principal Wade KC and Sheriff Principal  Dowdalls KC will provide leadership to the court and support its continuing role within Scotland’s judiciary.

Sheriff Principal Wade KC was appointed Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife in 2023.  She is a graduate of the University of Glasgow.  Having qualified in both Scottish and English law, she became a partner in solicitors’ firms in Glasgow and London with a particular interest in media law and defamation. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1998 practising in the field of civil law and appearing in the Outer and Inner House of the Court of Session and the House of Lords.

In 2008, she was appointed as a full time Advocate Depute and served as a Senior Advocate Depute from 2011 until 2014, during which time she conducted a number of high profile criminal appeals and prosecutions and was appointed head of the National Sexual Crimes Unit. She took silk in 2013.

She was appointed as a sheriff in Tayside, Central and Fife in 2015 and in 2018 was appointed as a temporary judge of the Court of Session.

Sheriff Principal Dowdalls KC was appointed Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway in 2023.

She graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1984. She then completed her traineeship and worked in private practice in Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Stirling. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 2000 and took silk in 2013. 

She specialised in family law, litigating in the Sheriff Court, Sheriff Appeal Court, Court of Session and UK Supreme Court. Sheriff Principal Dowdalls KC also represented parties in fatal accident inquiries and a core participant in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

From 2018 until May 2023 she was a Scottish Law Commissioner, leading the Aspects of Family Law project.