New Part-time Sheriffs Appointments

20th September 2011

Part-time sheriffs

Scottish Ministers have announced today 15 new appointments to the office of part-time sheriff. The appointments were recommended by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

The appointees are:

Mrs Aisha Y Anwar - Mrs Anwar is a graduate of the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford. She was admitted as a Solicitor in 2000 and worked in Maclay Murray and Spens initially as a Solicitor and thereafter as an Associate. Mrs Anwar became a Partner with DLA Piper Scotland in January 2009 and is currently Head of Litigation, Scotland

Mr Simon D R Bowie QC - Mr Bowie graduated from Universities of Aberdeen and Cambridge. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1995 after completing a bar traineeship with Brodies WS. He was Standing Junior to the Department for Work and Pensions from 2005 to 2008, and to the Home Department from 2007 to 2008. He served as an Ad Hoc Advocate Depute from 2003 and as a full time Advocate Depute from 2008 to 2010. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2009

Mr Brian M Cameron - Mr Cameron graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1986 and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1987. He was Assistant Solicitor/Associate in Macdonalds Solicitors litigation department from 1988 and became Partner in 1992. Mr Cameron is also a part-time tutor in civil court procedure at The Centre for Professional Legal Studies at the University of Strathclyde and is Vice-Dean of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow

Mr Simon G Collins QC - Mr Collins graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1991. After admission as a solicitor in 1993 he worked for Legal Services Agency Ltd, the Glasgow based law centre, specialising in mental health law. Mr Collins called as an Advocate in 1995 and took silk in 2011

Ms Susan A Craig - Ms Craig graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1983 and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1985. In 1994 she was admitted as a Solicitor Advocate and was accredited as Employment Law Specialist by the Law Society of Scotland in 1996. Ms Craig was a Litigation partner in Brodies WS from 1995 to 2001 and Employment Partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn from 2001 to 2003. Ms Craig was appointed as a fee paid Employment Judge in 2003 and has served as a full time Employment Judge based in Edinburgh since March 2004

Ms Joan F Kerr - Ms Kerr obtained a M.A. (Hons) in 1986 and then graduated from the University of Glasgow LL.B. in 1990. The bulk of her career was spent at HBM Sayers where she became a partner. She has extensive experience of practising in the Scottish courts. Since September 2008 has been a Stipendiary Magistrate

Dr Vinit Khurana - Dr Khurana is dually qualified in Medicine and Law. He graduated in Law from the University of Edinburgh in 1995 and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1998. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1999 dealing with conduct of legal disputes at all court and tribunal levels. From 2006 to 2009 he worked in Crown Office prosecuting serious crime in the High Court. In 2005 he was appointed as Standing Junior to the Scottish Ministers, one of a small group of Advocates who are instructed on a wide range of legal matters on behalf of the Scottish Government

Mr Murdo A MacLeod QC - Mr MacLeod graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1990. He began his career in the Crown Office and thereafter worked as a solicitor in private practice in Edinburgh before being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1994. Between 1999 and 2001 he acted as junior counsel for the second accused in the Lockerbie trial. He was appointed Advocate Depute in 2001 and Senior Advocate Depute in 2003. In 2005 he was appointed Counsel to the Billy Wright Inquiry. Mr MacLeod took silk in 2008

Mr Walter M D Mercer - Mr Mercer graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1995. He was enrolled as a solicitor in 1998; and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 2000. He has acted as an ad hoc Advocate Depute since 2003. He has represented the Crown in a number of high profile-cases, including the prosecution of Peter Tobin for the murder of Angelika Kluk. In 2007 he was appointed a Legal Member of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland where he handles some of the most complex and sensitive cases, including authorising compulsory care and treatment for children with mental disorders

Christopher M Shead - Mr Shead graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1987 and became a solicitor in 1990. From 1991-1993 he worked in the national health service in Scotland conducting civil litigation. In 1993 he was appointed as a Procurator Fiscal depute. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1996 where he practices criminal and civil advocacy

Ms Alison N Stirling - Ms Stirling graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1992 and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1994. In 1995 she became legal assistant to the then Lord President, Lord Hope of Craighead. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1997 and has a broad range of experience in civil litigation, especially in reparation and family law. She also has experience of judicial review, administrative law and various tribunals. Ms Stirling has been a part-time tutor in civil court practice for diploma students at Edinburgh University since 2000. She has been Deputy Editor of session Cases since 2001

Mr Craig D Turnbull - Mr Turnbull was educated at Williamwood High School and the University of Strathclyde. He was admitted as a Solicitor in 1988. He trained with A.C.White in Ayr, before joining Levy and McRae in Glasgow, carrying out a wide range of litigation work, both civil and criminal, with both firms. He joined MacRoberts in 1993, becoming a partner in 1997. His practice there has focussed on commercial and construction disputes, regulatory prosecutions and fatal accident inquiries. He has been accredited as a specialist in construction Law by the Law Society of Scotland since 2001 and has been the managing partner of MacRoberts since June 2011

Mr Andrew G Webster - Mr Webster graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1998 and did his training with Bird Semple Fyfe Ireland WS, predominately in commercial litigation and corporate law. A Lord Reid Scholar, he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1992 and has dealt with a broad range of civil matters including property, administrative and public law issues, with appearances in the House of Lords, the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary. He has held an appointment as Standing Junior Council to the Ministry of Defence since 1997 and is also a Legal Assessor to the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Teaching Council for Scotland

Mr William M Wood - Mr Wood graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1984. After commissioned service in The Gordon Highlanders, he began his legal career in 1990 as a trainee with MacNeill & Critchley. Admitted as a solicitor in 1991, he moved to Forrest & Hendry in 1992 and to JM & J Mailer in 1993, with both firms working mainly in criminal defence but with some civil work. In 1997 Mr Wood became a Partner with J Watson Scott & Co dealing with a wide mixture of Court business. He has been an Immigration judge since 2001 and also sits as a Deputy Judge in the Upper Tribunal. He holds three other tribunal appointments and is currently employed by Friels

Mr David A C Young QC - Mr Young graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1985 and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1991. From 2004 he was Advocate Depute, responsible for High Court Preliminary Hearings and Trials and in 2007 became Senior Advocate Depute. From 2009 he was Deputy Head of the National Sexual Crimes Unit, advising on and preparing Sexual cases for pre-petition stage onwards. Mr Young was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1998 and took silk in 2010

Part-time sheriffs were first appointed in 2000. They assist in maintaining the programme of business in the courts when full-time sheriffs are unavailable owing to sick leave or attendance at training. Part-time sheriffs may also assist when the court programme experiences increases in business which cannot be accommodated without additional judicial assistance. Most part-time sheriffs have a continuing professional practice as either an advocate or a solicitor.

The 15 new part-time sheriffs were recommended for appointment by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. The qualifications required for part-time sheriffs are the same as those for full-time sheriffs. Part-time sheriffs are paid a daily fee for each day of service, currently £583.