BY Daniel Harkins | May 7 | 
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First Catholic to become Scotland’s most senior judge to retire
Lord Brian Gill is to step down at the end of this month having made history with his appointment and serving for almost three years as Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General
Lord Brian Gill, the first Catholic to be appointed to the position of Scotland’s most senior judge, has announced he is to retire on May 31.
The 73-year-old is Scotland’s longest serving judge. He was appointed in 1994 and was the only Catholic then serving in such a role.
In June 2012 he made history when he became the first Catholic to be appointed Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General, having held the position of Lord Justice Clerk from November 2001—only the second Catholic to hold that post.
A statement from the Judiciary of Scotland said Lord Gill had, in the course of a distinguished legal career, presided over some of the most significant changes to the Scottish legal system in over a century.
“In particular, the implementation of the proposals of the Scottish Civil Courts Review, which he led, as well as some major changes to criminal appeal procedure which are in the process of being implemented,” the statement reads.
Under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, the First Minister will now establish a panel to recommend ‘individuals who are suitable for appointment’ to fill the vacancy.
Lord Gill attended St Thomas’ Primary School and St Aloysius’ College, Glasgow, and graduated from Glasgow University before being called to the Scottish Bar as an Advocate in 1967. From 1964 to 1977 he lectured in the Faculty of Law at the University of Edinburgh.
In 2011 he was awarded a Papal Knighthood by Pope Benedict XVI, being presented with the medal by Cardinal Keith O’Brien during the annual Red Mass at Edinburgh’s St Mary’s Cathedral.
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