Lord Gill becomes Scotland’s most senior judge
Lord Gill has been appointed as Scotland's most senior judge, the Scottish Government announced today.
He is the first Catholic to hold the role and will replace Lord Hamilton, who retires next week.
First Minister Alex Salmond described Lord Gill as a man of ‘great stature and integrity,’ who had the ability to improve the justice system.
Lord Gill (above with Cardinal Keith O’Brien) was nominated for Lord President by Mr Salmond, following recommendations by a selection panel, and confirmed in the job by the Queen.
He is Scotland’s longest serving judge and taught law at Edinburgh University before joining the faculty of advocates in 1967 and becoming a QC in 1981.
After serving as a lawyer to the UK government, he was appointed as a judge in 1994, before taking up the role of Lord Justice Clerk in 2001.
“I warmly welcome the appointment of Lord Gill as Scotland’s new lord president,” Mr Salmond said. “His commitment to reform and modernisation is clear and under his leadership I am confident there will be substantial improvements to the justice system.”
Pic: Paul McSherry
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Not all are happy with this appointment.
Why is an older man being appointed to this position on the retiral of a younger man? The retirement age for judges has been the subject of much debate but there were many judges of experience and with a longer potential work life span who were overlooked on this occasion. Lord Gill has been in a powerful and influential position for many years already. Why not give the Scottish legal system the chance of benefitting from the input of another good legal brain?
More importantly, Lord Gill has recently reported on changes to the Scottish legal system that many are much opposed to but which seems will be accepted without adequate scrutiny by the Scottish government.