New Chair appointed
Lady Dorrian QC has been appointed as the new Lord Justice Clerk which, by virtue of the office, makes her the new Chair of the Council.
She replaces Lord Carloway who became the Lord President last month. She will be installed and take up her appointment as Lord Justice Clerk on 26 April.
The Council’s Senator Member Lord Turnbull stepped in as Council Chair while the position was vacant. Lady Dorrian will be in place to chair the next meeting in June.
She said: “I am delighted to be taking up the post as Chair of the Council and am looking forward to working with my fellow Council members to discuss sentencing topics and work toward the preparation of guidelines. My predecessor Lord Carloway described the launch of the Council as a new era in the Scottish justice system and I am delighted to be taking this forward.
“I would like to thank Lord Turnbull for stepping in as Council Chair while the seat was vacant.”
Biography
Lady Dorrian was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Courts in 2005, having served as a temporary judge since 2002. She was appointed to the Inner House in November 2012. She is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1981 before becoming Standing Junior Counsel to the Health and Safety Executive and Commission between 1987 and 1994. She served as Advocate Depute between 1988 and 1991, and as Standing Junior to the Department of Energy between 1991 and 1994. In 1994, she was also appointed Queen's Counsel. Between 1997 and 2001 she was a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
She was nominated as Lord Justice Clerk by the First Minister taking account of recommendations made by a selection panel constituted under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008.