Appointment of new sheriff for Grampian, Highland and Islands

19th April 2013

On 20 March 2013 Her Majesty the Queen appointed Mr Andrew Miller, Solicitor Advocate as a floating sheriff for Grampian, Highland and Islands based at Dingwall.

First Minister Alex Salmond nominated Mr Andrew Miller for appointment on the basis of a report by the independent Judicial Appointments Board.

Mr Miller will take up appointment on 29 April 2013.

Andrew Miller was admitted as a solicitor in 1991 following a civil traineeship with Borland, Johnston & Orr, Solicitors, in Glasgow. He then worked as a solicitor in private practice dealing with a wide range of civil and criminal cases before joining the Crown Office as a Procurator Fiscal Depute in 1995. After holding a number of posts within Crown Office he was appointed as Procurator Fiscal for Dumbarton in 2005. He qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in 2003, an Advocate Depute in 2008 and a Senior Advocate Depute in 2010.

The salary of a sheriff is £129,579 per annum.

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland was established by Ministers in 2002; and it became an independent advisory non-departmental public body on 1st June 2009. The Board has statutory responsibilities under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008. The Board’s role is to recommend for appointment to the office of judge, sheriff principal, sheriff and part-time sheriff.

The First Minister retains the statutory responsibility for making nominations to Her Majesty the Queen. The First Minister is required by statute to consult the Lord President of the Court of Session before making his nomination to Her Majesty.