All Topics  
Lord Advocate

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Lord Advocate
 
 
  Topics Lord Advocate Topic Home

Her Majesty's Advocate (or when the monarch is male His Majesty's Advocate), known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown
The Crown

Throughout the Commonwealth realms, the Crown is an abstract metonymy concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government....
 in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved
Devolution

Devolution is the Statute granting of powers from the central government of a state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level....
 powers of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is the Devolution national, Unicameralism legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh area of the capital Edinburgh....
. He or she is the chief public prosecutor for Scotland and all prosecutions on indictment
Indictment

In the common law legal system, an indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a criminal offense. In those jurisdictions which retain the concept of a felony, the serious criminal offense would be a felony; those jurisdictions which have abolished the concept of a felony often substitute the concept of an indictable offenc...
 are conducted by the Crown Office, nominally in his or her name.

The officeholder is one of the Great Officers of State of Scotland.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Lord Advocate'
Start a new discussion about 'Lord Advocate'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Her Majesty's Advocate (or when the monarch is male His Majesty's Advocate), known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown
The Crown

Throughout the Commonwealth realms, the Crown is an abstract metonymy concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government....
 in Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved
Devolution

Devolution is the Statute granting of powers from the central government of a state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level....
 powers of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is the Devolution national, Unicameralism legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh area of the capital Edinburgh....
. He or she is the chief public prosecutor for Scotland and all prosecutions on indictment
Indictment

In the common law legal system, an indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a criminal offense. In those jurisdictions which retain the concept of a felony, the serious criminal offense would be a felony; those jurisdictions which have abolished the concept of a felony often substitute the concept of an indictable offenc...
 are conducted by the Crown Office, nominally in his or her name.

The officeholder is one of the Great Officers of State of Scotland. The current Lord Advocate is the Rt. Hon.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British monarchy. Its members are largely senior politicians, who were or are members of either the House of Commons of the United Kingdom or House of Lords....
 Elish Angiolini
Elish Angiolini

Elish Frances Angiolini Queen's Counsel is a Scotland lawyer who has served in the political role of Lord Advocate for Scotland since 2006. She was appointed to the post of Solicitor General for Scotland in November 2001 becoming the first woman, the first Procurator Fiscal, and the first solicitor to hold that post....
, QC
Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male Monarch, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of "Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law"....
, appointed on 5 October 2006. She is the first woman, first Procurator Fiscal
Procurator Fiscal

A procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland, also carrying out some of the investigatory functions done by the coroner in other legal systems but not any eventual Fatal Accident Inquiry....
, and the first solicitor
Solicitor

In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers, and a law practitioner will usually only hold one title....
 to be appointed to the post.

History

It is an ancient office dating back to at least 1483, when John Ross is mentioned as His Majesty's Advocate to King James III
James III of Scotland

James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family....
.

From 1707 to 1998 the Lord Advocate was the chief legal adviser of the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain

The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a country in North-West Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801....
 and the Crown in Scotland, for both civil and criminal matters, until the passing of the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998

The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament....
 which devolved most domestic affairs to the Scottish Parliament. The United Kingdom government is now advised on Scots law
Scots law

Scots law is a unique Legal systems of the world with an ancient basis in Roman law. Grounded in Codification Civil law dating back to the Corpus Juris Civilis, it also features elements of common law with Legal institutions of Scotland in the High Middle Ages sources....
 by the Advocate General for Scotland
Advocate General for Scotland

Her Majesty's Advocate General for Scotland in is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, whose duty it is to advise the the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom on Scots law....
.

The Lord Advocate is not head of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates

The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary....
; that position is held by the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.

Parliamentary and government role


Until devolution in 1999, all Lord Advocates were, by convention, members of the United Kingdom government, although the post was not normally in the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom

In the politics of the United Kingdom, the Cabinet is a formal body composed of the most senior Her Majesty's Governmentminister chosen by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom....
. Since devolution, section 44 of the Scotland Act 1998
Scotland Act 1998

The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the Act which established the devolved Scottish Parliament....
 provides that the Lord Advocate is automatically a member of the Scottish Executive.

From 1999 until 2007, the Lord Advocate attended the weekly Scottish Cabinet meetings. However, after the 2007 election, the new First Minister
First Minister of Scotland

The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government....
 Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond

Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond, is the First Minister of Scotland of Scotland, heading a minority government Scottish Government.He is leader of the Scottish National Party , Scottish MPs for the List of UK Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland of Banff and Buchan , and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon ....
 decided that Lord Advocate would no longer attend the Scottish Cabinet, stating he wished to "de-politicise the post".

Until devolution, all Lord Advocates were, by convention, members of either the House of Commons
British House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the British monarchy and the House of Lords ....
 or the House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
 to allow them to speak for the Government. Those who were not already Members of Parliament received a life peerage on appointment. Since devolution, section 27 of the Scotland Act 1998 permits the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland

Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law....
 to attend and speak in the Scottish Parliament ex officio, even if they are not Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Future careers of Lord Advocates


Appointments as Senators
Senator of the College of Justice

The Senators of the College of Justice, also known as the Lords of Council and Session and as the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, are the judges of the Court of Session and of the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland....
 of the College of Justice
College of Justice

The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office....
 were formerly made on the nomination of the Lord Advocate. Every Lord Advocate between 1842 and 1967 has been appointed to the bench, either on demitting office or at a later date, and of the more recent former Lord Advocates all except Henry Stephen Wilson, Pete Fraser
Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie

Peter Lovat Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie, Privy Council, Queen's Counsel is a Scotland politician and advocate.He was educated at Loretto School, Musselburgh, East Lothian, and graduated BA and LLM , Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, before going to the University of Edinburgh....
 and Colin Boyd have been appointed to the bench. Many Lord Advocates in fact nominated themselves for appointment as Lord President of the Court of Session
Lord President of the Court of Session

The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland, and presiding judge of the College of Justice and Court of Session, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the High Court of Justiciary, the offices having been combined in 1836....
 or as Lord Justice Clerk
Lord Justice Clerk

The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session....


Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides an independent public prosecutor, investigates sudden death and suspicious deaths and handles complaints against the Police in Scotland....
 is headed by the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland

Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law....
, and is the public prosecution service in Scotland. It also carries out functions which are broadly equivalent to the coroner
Coroner

A coroner or forensics examiner is an official responsible for investigating deaths, particularly some of those happening under unusual circumstances, and determining the cause of death....
 in common law
Common law

Common law refers to law and the corresponding Legal systems of the world developed through legal opinion of courts and similar tribunals , rather than through statute law or Executive ....
 jurisdictions. Incorporated within the Crown Office is the Legal Secretariat to the Lord Advocate.

Crown Agent

The Crown Agent is the principal legal advisor to the Lord Advocate on prosecution matters. He also acts as Chief Executive for the Department. He acts as solicitor in all legal proceedings in which the Lord Advocate appears as representing his or her own department. They issue general instructions from the Lord Advocate for the guidance of Crown counsel, procurators fiscal, sheriff clerks and other public officials, transmits instructions from Crown counsel to procurators fiscal about prosecutions, and, in consultation with the Clerk of Justiciary, arranges sittings of the High Court of Justiciary
High Court of Justiciary

The High Court of Justiciary is the Supreme Courts of Scotland criminal justice of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
. At trials in the High Court in Edinburgh, they attend as instructing solicitor. They are assisted by other senior legal, managerial and administrative staff.

The Crown Agent also holds the office of Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer

The Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is an officer in Scotland who represents the Crown's interests in bona vacantia, ultimus haeres and treasure trove....


Call for Lord Advocate to be disempowered


In the Greshornish House Accord of 16 September 2008, Professors Hans Köchler
Hans Köchler

Hans K?chler is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and president of the International Progress Organization, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations....
 and Robert Black said:

"It is inappropriate that the Chief Legal Adviser to the Government is also head of all criminal prosecutions. Whilst the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General continue as public prosecutors the principle of separation of powers seems compromised. The potential for a conflict of interest always exists. Resolution of these circumstances would entail an amendment of the provisions contained within the Scotland Act 1998."

It appears that the judges of Scotland's supreme court have come to share this view. In a Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald

The Sunday Herald is a Scotland Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. From the start it has combined a liberal stance with support for Scottish devolution....
 article dated 2 November 2008, it is reported that in their submission to a commission set up to consider how the devolution settlement between Scotland and the United Kingdom could be improved, the judges recommend that the Lord Advocate should cease to be the head of the public prosecution system and should act only as the Scottish Government's chief legal adviser. The article reads in part:
'In their report, the judges say the Lord Advocate's dual roles have generated scores of [human rights] challenges, gumming up the justice system. The opportunity "to challenge... virtually any act of a prosecutor has led to a plethora of disputed issues, with consequential delays to the holding of trials and to the hearing and completion of appeals against conviction." (...)

'The judiciary offer three possible solutions to the problem, but do not come down in favour of any particular one.

'They write: "Her responsibilities as the public prosecutor could be transferred to an independent Director of Public Prosecutions' in Scotland, who would be responsible for the prosecution system, but who would not be a member of the Scottish Executive (sic).

"Such a change would rob the Lord Advocate of most of her functions, but would leave the Scottish Executive with a Lord Advocate who was a general legal adviser to the Executive."

'They also suggest Westminster could amend the Scotland Act to explicitly exempt the Lord Advocate's actions as a prosecutor from compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights

The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms , was adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe in 1950 to protect human rights and fundamental Freedom in Europe....
.

'A third possibility would be changing the law on criminal appeals, although they warn "such a radical nature would be likely to generate considerable controversy".'


The judges' full submission can be accessed ("Judiciary in the Court of Session" just over half way down the list headed "Miscellaneous Submissions").

Lords Advocate

  • John Ross: 1483 or earlier - 1494
  • James Henryson of Fordell: 1494 - 1503
  • Richard Lawson of Heirigs: 1503 - 1521
  • James Wishart of Pittarrow: 1521 - 1525
  • Adam Otterburn of Reidhall: 1525 - 1527
  • John Foulis and Adam Otterburn of Reidhall: 1527 - 1533
  • Adam Otterburn and Henry Lauder
    Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains

    Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains was Lord Advocate of Scotland and one of the nine advocates nominated and appointed at the institution of the College of Justice as an Ordinary Lord, styled Lord St Germains, 13 January 1538....
    : 1533 - 1538
  • Henry Lauder
    Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains

    Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains was Lord Advocate of Scotland and one of the nine advocates nominated and appointed at the institution of the College of Justice as an Ordinary Lord, styled Lord St Germains, 13 January 1538....
    : 1538 - 1561
  • Henry Balnaves, to Mary I
    Mary I of Scotland

    Mary I was Queen of Scots from 14 December 1542 to 24 July 1567.She was the only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland. She was only six days old when her father died and left her Queen of Scots....
  • Thomas Cumin, Lord of Session
  • John Spens of Condie, Lord Condie: 1561
  • Robert Crichton of Eliok, Lord Eliok
  • David Borthwick of Lochhill: 1573 - 1582
  • David Macgill of Cranston-Riddell, and Nisbet: 1582 - 1589
  • John Skene: 1589 - 1594
  • William Hart of Livelands: 1594
  • Andrew Logie: 1594 - 1595
  • Sir Thomas Hamilton
    Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington

    Sir Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington , designated before his peerage as 'of Drumcarny, Monkland, and Binning', was a Scotland administrator, Lord Advocate, judge, and Lord Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire....
     and David Macgill: 1595
  • Sir Thomas Hamilton
    Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington

    Sir Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington , designated before his peerage as 'of Drumcarny, Monkland, and Binning', was a Scotland administrator, Lord Advocate, judge, and Lord Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire....
    : 1596 - 1612
  • Sir William Oliphant
    William Oliphant, Lord Newton

    Sir William Oliphant, Lord Newton was a Scotland judge.Admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1577, he became an Advocate Depute in 1604. He gained favour of James VI by throwing up his brief for the six ministers in 1606....
    : 1612 - 1626
  • Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet
    Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet

    Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet was a Scotland lawyer.Admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1605, he made his reputation by defence of John Forbes , and other ministers at Linlithgow in 1606....
    : 1626 - 1641
  • Sir Archibald Johnston
    Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston

    Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston was a Scotland judge and statesman, son of James Johnstone , a merchant burgess of Edinburgh. He was baptised on 28 March 1611, educated at Glasgow, and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1633....
    : 1646 -
  • Sir Thomas Nicholson
  • Sir Archibald Primrose
    Archibald Primrose, Lord Carrington

    Sir Archibald Primrose, 1st Baronet, Lord Carrington, , was a notable Scotland lawyer, judge, and Cavalier.The son of James Primrose by Catherine, daughter of Richard Lawson of Boghall, he succeeded his father, who had held the office for upwards of forty years, as Clerk to the Privy Council of Scotland on September 2, 1641....
    : 1659 - 1661
  • Sir John Fletcher: 1661 - 1664
  • Sir John Nisbet
    John Nisbet, Lord Dirleton

    John Nisbet, Lord Dirleton , was a Scotland judge.Admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1633, he was sheriff of Edinburghshire from 1639. He defended James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in 1641....
    : 1664 - 1677
  • Sir George Mackenzie
    George Mackenzie

    Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, Knt., , known as Bluidy Mackenzie, was a Scotland lawyer, Lord Advocate, and legal writer....
     of Rosehaugh: 1677 - 1687
  • John Dalrymple
    John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair

    John Dalrymple was a Scotland Peerage of Scotland who played a key role in the 1707 Treaty of Union 1707 between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England, that created the Kingdom of Great Britain....
    : 1687 - 1688
  • Sir George Mackenzie
    George Mackenzie

    Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, Knt., , known as Bluidy Mackenzie, was a Scotland lawyer, Lord Advocate, and legal writer....
    : 1688 - 1689
  • John Dalrymple
    John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair

    John Dalrymple was a Scotland Peerage of Scotland who played a key role in the 1707 Treaty of Union 1707 between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England, that created the Kingdom of Great Britain....
    : 1689 - 1692
  • Sir James Stewart 1692 - 1709
  • Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet
    Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet

    Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, 1st Baronet was a Scottish and United Kingdom politician, Lord Advocate of Scotland, and eventually Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland....
    : 1709 - 1711
  • Sir James Stewart (second time) 1711 - 1713
  • Thomas Kennedy of Dunure: 1714
  • Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet
    Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet

    Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, 1st Baronet was a Scottish and United Kingdom politician, Lord Advocate of Scotland, and eventually Auditor of the Exchequer in Scotland....
    : 1714 - 1720
  • Robert Dundas
    Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elder

    Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elder was a Scotland judge.The second son of Robert Dundas he served as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1717 to 1720 and as Lord Advocate from 1720 to 1725....
    : 1720 - 1725
  • Duncan Forbes
    Duncan Forbes (judge)

    Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden was a Scotland politician and judge.The second son of Duncan Forbes of Culloden, MP for Nairn and Inveness, he studied law at Leiden University and became an Faculty of Advocates and sheriff of Midlothian in 1709....
    : 1725 - 1737
  • Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald
    Charles Erskine

    Charles Erskine was Lord Advocate, a Scotland judge, and a Member of Parliament.Charles Erskine was the third son of Sir Charles Erskine, Baronet, of Alva, by his spouse Christian, daughter of Sir James Dundas of Arniston....
    : 1737 - 1742
  • Robert Craigie
    Robert Craigie

    Robert Craigie was a Scotland politician and judge. He was baptised on March 4th 1688 and died on 10 March 1760.On 2 April, 1742 he was elected Member of Parliament for the Northern Burghs constituency in northern Scotland....
    : 1742 - 1746
  • William Grant
    William Grant, Lord Prestongrange

    William Grant , Lord Prestongrange, was a Scottish politician and judge.The second son of Sir Francis Grant, Lord Cullen, he was admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1722, was procurator for the Church of Scotland and Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1731....
    : 1746 - 1754
  • Robert Dundas
    Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the younger

    Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the younger was a Scottish judge.The eldest son of Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elder , he was deducated at Edinburgh University and studied Roman law at Utrecht University....
    : 1754 - 1760
  • Thomas Miller
    Thomas Miller, Lord Glenlee

    Sir Thomas Miller, 1st Baronet , known as Lord Glenlee during his judicial service, was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at the University of Glasgow, he became an Faculty of Advocates in 1742 and was solicitor of the Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in Scotland from 1755....
    : 1760 - 1766
  • James Montgomery: 1766 - 1775
  • Henry Dundas
    Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

    Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville was a Scotland lawyer and politician. He was the last person to be impeachment in the United Kingdom.He was the fourth son of Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elder , Lord President of the Court of Session, and was born at Dalkeith in 1742....
    : 1775 - 1783
  • The Hon. Henry Erskine
    Henry Erskine

    Henry Erskine was a liberal Whig_%28British_political_faction%29 Scottish politician and lawyer.The second son of Henry David Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan and brother of the Lord Chancellor Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, he studied at St Andrews University, Edinburgh University and the University of Glasgow....
    : 1783
  • Ilay Campbell
    Sir Ilay Campbell, 1st Baronet

    Sir Ilay Campbell of Succoth was a Scottish judge.An Faculty of Advocates from 1757, he was engaged in the Peerage law 1764 to 1769. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in 1783 and Lord Advocate in 1784....
    : 1783 - 1789
  • Robert Dundas
    Robert Dundas of Arniston

    Robert Dundas of Arniston was a Scottish judge.The son of Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the younger he served as Solicitor General for Scotland in 1784 and as Lord Advocate from 1789 to 1801....
    : 1789 - 1801
  • Charles Hope: 1801 - 1804
  • Sir James Montgomery
    Sir James Montgomery, 1st Baronet

    Sir James William Montgomery, , 1st Baronet, was a Scottish politician and judge.Called to the Faculty of Advocates in 1743, he was sheriff of Peeblesshire from 1748 and joint Solicitor General for Scotland from 1760, holding the office solely from 1764....
    : 1804 - 1806
  • The Hon. Henry Erskine
    Henry Erskine

    Henry Erskine was a liberal Whig_%28British_political_faction%29 Scottish politician and lawyer.The second son of Henry David Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan and brother of the Lord Chancellor Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, he studied at St Andrews University, Edinburgh University and the University of Glasgow....
    : 1806 - 1807
  • Archibald Colquhoun
    Archibald Colquhoun

    Archibald Campbell Colquhoun was a Scottish people politician and lawyer.The son of John Campbell of Clathick, he took the surname Colquhoun in 1804 on inheriting the estate of Killermont, Dunbartonshire....
    : 1807 - 1816
  • Alexander Maconochie
    Alexander Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank

    Alexander Maconochie, later Maconochie-Welwood , was a Scotland judge.The son of Allan Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank, he was admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1799....
    : 1816 - 1819
  • Sir William Rae: 1819 - 1830
  • Francis Jeffrey
    Francis Jeffrey

    Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey was a Scotland judge and literary critic.He was born in Edinburgh, the son of a clerk in the Court of Session. After attending the Royal High School for six years, he studied at the University of Glasgow from 1787 to May 1789, and at The Queen's College, Oxford, from September 1791 to June 1792....
    : December 1830 - May 1834
  • John Murray
    John Murray, Lord Murray

    Sir John Archibald Murray, Lord Murray, was a Scottish judge.Son of Alexander Murray, Lord Henderland, he contributed to the Edinburgh Review from its commencement....
    : May - November 1834
  • Sir William Rae: December 1834 - April 1835
  • John Murray
    John Murray, Lord Murray

    Sir John Archibald Murray, Lord Murray, was a Scottish judge.Son of Alexander Murray, Lord Henderland, he contributed to the Edinburgh Review from its commencement....
    : April 1835 - April 1839
  • Andrew Rutherfurd
    Andrew Rutherfurd

    Andrew Rutherfurd was a Scotland judge.Educated at Edinburgh, he became an advocate in 1812. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland from 1837, becoming Lord Advocate in 1839 and Member of Parliament for Leith Burghs in the same year....
    : April 1839 - September 1841
  • Sir William Rae: September 1841 - October 1842
  • Duncan McNeill: October 1842 - July 1846
  • Andrew Rutherfurd
    Andrew Rutherfurd

    Andrew Rutherfurd was a Scotland judge.Educated at Edinburgh, he became an advocate in 1812. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland from 1837, becoming Lord Advocate in 1839 and Member of Parliament for Leith Burghs in the same year....
    : July 1846 - April 1851
  • James Moncreiff
    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff

    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff , was a Scotland lawyer and politician.The son of Sir James Wellwood Moncreiff, 9th Baronet, a Scottish judge, he was educated at Edinburgh University and was called to the Advocate in 1833....
    : April 1851 - February 1852
  • Adam Anderson
    Adam Anderson

    'Adam Anderson' was a Scotland economist. He was a clerk for forty years in South Sea House, the headquarters of the South Sea Company, where he published a work entitled Historical and Chronological Deduction of the Origin of Commerce from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time, containing a History of the Great Commercial Interests of t...
    : February - May 1852
  • John Inglis
    John Inglis, Lord Glencorse

    John Inglis, Lord Glencorse was a Scotland politician and Judge. He was Lord President of the Court of Session .The youngest son of John Inglis, a Church of Scotland minister, Inglis was born in Edinburgh in August 1810....
    : May - December 1852
  • James Moncreiff
    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff

    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff , was a Scotland lawyer and politician.The son of Sir James Wellwood Moncreiff, 9th Baronet, a Scottish judge, he was educated at Edinburgh University and was called to the Advocate in 1833....
    : December 1852 - March 1858
  • John Inglis
    John Inglis, Lord Glencorse

    John Inglis, Lord Glencorse was a Scotland politician and Judge. He was Lord President of the Court of Session .The youngest son of John Inglis, a Church of Scotland minister, Inglis was born in Edinburgh in August 1810....
    : March - July 1858
  • Charles Baillie
    Charles Baillie, Lord Jerviswoode

    Charles Baillie, Lord Jerviswood , was a Scotland politician and judge.Baillie was the second son of George Baillie of Mellerstain House and Jerviswood , son of the Hon....
    : July 1858 - April 1859
  • David Mure: April - June 1859
  • James Moncreiff
    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff

    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff , was a Scotland lawyer and politician.The son of Sir James Wellwood Moncreiff, 9th Baronet, a Scottish judge, he was educated at Edinburgh University and was called to the Advocate in 1833....
    : June 1859 - July 1866
  • George Patton
    George Patton, Lord Glenalmond

    George Patton, Lord Glenalmond , was a Scottish politician and judge.He studied law at Edinburgh University. He was Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Bridgwater , Somerset from 1865 to 1866....
    : July 1866 - February 1867
  • Edward Strathearn Gordon: February 1867 - December 1868
  • James Moncreiff
    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff

    James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff , was a Scotland lawyer and politician.The son of Sir James Wellwood Moncreiff, 9th Baronet, a Scottish judge, he was educated at Edinburgh University and was called to the Advocate in 1833....
    : December 1868 - October 1869
  • George Young: October 1869 - February 1874
  • Edward Strathearn Gordon: 1874 - 1876
  • William Watson: July 1876 - April 1880
  • John McLaren
    John McLaren (politician)

    John McLaren , Lord McLaren, was a Scottish Liberal Party politician and judge.The son of Duncan McLaren, a former List of Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Member of Parliament, he was born in Edinburgh....
    : May 1880 - August 1881
  • Sir John Blair Balfour
    John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross

    John Blair Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Queen's Counsel was a Scotland lawyer and politician.Born in Clackmannan, he was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University, becoming an advocate of the Scottish Bar association in 1861....
    : August 1881 - July 1885
  • John Macdonald
    John Hay Athole Macdonald, Lord Kingsburgh

    The Right Honourable Sir John Hay Athole Macdonald Order of the Bath was a Scotland politician and later a judge.He was called to the Faculty of Advocates in 1859....
    : July 1885 - February 1886
  • Sir John Blair Balfour
    John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross

    John Blair Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Queen's Counsel was a Scotland lawyer and politician.Born in Clackmannan, he was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University, becoming an advocate of the Scottish Bar association in 1861....
    : February - August 1886
  • John Macdonald
    John Hay Athole Macdonald, Lord Kingsburgh

    The Right Honourable Sir John Hay Athole Macdonald Order of the Bath was a Scotland politician and later a judge.He was called to the Faculty of Advocates in 1859....
    : August 1886 - October 1888
  • James Patrick Bannerman Robertson: October 1888 - August 1891
  • Sir Charles John Pearson
    Charles John Pearson

    Sir Charles John Pearson was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was called to the English and Scottish bars in 1870....
    : October 1891 - August 1892
  • Sir John Blair Balfour
    John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross

    John Blair Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Queen's Counsel was a Scotland lawyer and politician.Born in Clackmannan, he was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University, becoming an advocate of the Scottish Bar association in 1861....
    : August 1892 - July 1895
  • Sir Charles John Pearson
    Charles John Pearson

    Sir Charles John Pearson was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was called to the English and Scottish bars in 1870....
    : July 1895 - May 1896
  • Andrew Graham Murray
    Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin

    Andrew Graham Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin Royal Victorian Order, Privy Council of the United Kingdom was a Scotland politician and judge.Member of Parliament for Buteshire and Caithness from 1891 to 1905, Murray was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland from 1891–1892 and from 1895–1896, and Lord Advocate 1896–1903...
    : May 1896 - October 1903
  • Charles Scott Dickson
    Charles Scott Dickson

    Charles Scott Dickson was a Scotland Unionist Party politician and judge.Educated at the High School of Glasgow, the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1877 and was an Advocate Depute in 1892 and 1895....
    : October 1903 - December 1905
  • Thomas Shaw
    Thomas Shaw, 1st Baron Craigmyle

    Thomas Shaw, 1st Baron Craigmyle Privy Council of the United Kingdom King's Counsel Doctor of Laws , known as Lord Shaw from 1909 to 1929, was a Scottish Liberal Party politician and judge....
    : 1905 - 1909
  • Alexander Ure
    Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde

    Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde Order of the British Empire was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at the University of Glasgow he was admitted to membership of the Faculty of Advocates in 1878....
    : 1909 - 1913
  • Robert Munro
    Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness

    Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, King's Counsel was a Scotland Liberal Party politician and judge....
    : 1913 - 1916
  • James Avon Clyde: 1916 - 1920
  • Thomas Brash Morison
    Thomas Brash Morison

    Thomas Brash Morison was a Scottish politician and judge.Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Inverness-shire from 1917 to 1918 and for Inverness from 1918 to 1922, Morison was Solicitor General for Scotland in the Liberal and Coalition Governments from 1913 to 1920....
    : 1920 - 1922
  • Charles David Murray
    Charles David Murray

    Charles David Murray was a Unionist Party politician, lawyer and judge.Born in London, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University and was admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1889 and appointed a King's Counsel in 1907....
    : March 1922 - November 1922
  • William Watson
    William Watson, Baron Thankerton

    William Watson, Baron Thankerton was a Scottish politician and judge.Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Lanarkshire from 1913 to 1918 and for Carlisle from 1924 to 1929, he held office as Solicitor General for Scotland in 1922 and as Lord Advocate from 1922 to 1924 and from 1924 to 1929....
    : 1922 - 1924
  • Hugh Pattison MacMillan: February 1924 - November 1924
  • William Watson
    William Watson, Baron Thankerton

    William Watson, Baron Thankerton was a Scottish politician and judge.Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Lanarkshire from 1913 to 1918 and for Carlisle from 1924 to 1929, he held office as Solicitor General for Scotland in 1922 and as Lord Advocate from 1922 to 1924 and from 1924 to 1929....
    : 1924 - 1929
  • Alexander Munro MacRobert
    Alexander Munro MacRobert

    Alexander Munro MacRobert KC was a Scotland lawyer and Unionist Party politician.Educated at Paisley Grammar School, Edinburgh University and the University of Glasgow he became an Faculty of Advocates in 1897....
    : 1929
  • Craigie Mason Aitchison: 1929 - 1933
  • Wilfrid Guild Normand: 1933 - 1935
  • Douglas Jamieson
    Douglas Jamieson

    Douglas Jamieson was a Scottish Unionist Party politician and judge.Educated at Cargilfield School, Fettes College, the University of Glasgow and Edinburgh University, Jamieson was admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1911 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1926....
    : April 1935 - October 1935
  • Thomas Mackay Cooper: 1935 - 1941
  • James Scott Cumberland Reid: 1941 - 1945
  • George Reid Thomson
    George Reid Thomson

    George Reid Thomson, Lord Thomson was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at the South African College, Cape Town, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was a Captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in World War I....
    : 1945 - 1947
  • John Thomas Wheatley: 1947 - 1951
  • James Latham McDiarmid Clyde: 1951 - 1955
  • William Rankine Milligan
    William Rankine Milligan

    William Rankine Milligan, Lord Milligan Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Queen's Counsel was a Scottish Unionist Party politician and judge....
    : 1955 - 1960
  • William Grant
    William Grant (politician)

    William Grant was a Unionist Party politician and judge.Educated at Fettes College, Oriel College, Oxford and Edinburgh University, he was admitted as an Faculty of Advocates in 1935....
    : 1960 - 1962
  • Ian Hamilton Shearer
    Ian Hamilton Shearer

    Ian Hamilton Shearer was a Scotland lawyer and judge.Educated at Dunfermline High School, the University of Glasgow and Edinburgh University, he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1938....
    : 1962 - 1964
  • George Gordon Stott:1964 - 1967
  • Henry Stephen Wilson: 1967 - 1970
  • Norman Russell Wylie: 1970 - 1974
  • Ronald King Murray
    Ronald King Murray

    Ronald King Murray, Lord Murray Privy Council of the United Kingdom was a Scotland Labour Party politician and judge.Educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh and Jesus College, Oxford, he served in the REME and SEAC from 1941 to 1946....
    : 1974 - 1979
  • James Mackay, Lord Mackay of Clashfern
    James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern

    James Peter Hymers Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern Order of the Thistle Privy Council of the United Kingdom is a Scottish advocate and former Lord Chancellor ....
    : 1979 - 1984
  • Kenneth Cameron, Lord Cameron of Lochbroom: 1984 - 1989
  • Peter Fraser, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie: 1989 - 1992
  • Alan Rodger, Lord Rodger of Earlsferry: 1992 - 1995
  • Donald Mackay, Lord Mackay of Drumadoon: 1995 - 1997
  • Andrew Hardie, Lord Hardie: 1997 - 2000
  • Colin Boyd, Baron Boyd of Duncansby
    Colin Boyd, Baron Boyd of Duncansby

    Colin Boyd, Baron Boyd of Duncansby, Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Queen's Counsel, was Lord Advocate for Scotland from February 24, 2000 until his resignation on October 4 2006....
    : 2000 - 2006
  • Elish Angiolini
    Elish Angiolini

    Elish Frances Angiolini Queen's Counsel is a Scotland lawyer who has served in the political role of Lord Advocate for Scotland since 2006. She was appointed to the post of Solicitor General for Scotland in November 2001 becoming the first woman, the first Procurator Fiscal, and the first solicitor to hold that post....
    : 2006 - present


See also

  • Law Officers of the Crown
    Law Officers of the Crown

    The Law Officers of the Crown are the chief legal advisors to the the Crown, and advise and represent the various governments in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms....


Sources


The career path of recent Scottish law officers, Scots Law Times
Scots Law Times

The Scots Law Times is the law reports service in Scotland, publishing over 1400 pages of reports each year. Although Scots law has its basis in Civil law , it also features elements of common law....
, 14 July 2006