The Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife is the head of the judicial system of the sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife, one of the six sheriffdoms covering the whole of Scotland. The sheriffdom employs a number of legally qualified sheriffs who are responsible for the hearing of cases in eight Sheriffs Courts held in Alloa, Dundee, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Forfar, Kirkcaldy, Perth, and Stirling. The current Scottish sheriffdoms were created in 1975 when the previous arrangement of 12 sheriffdoms was discontinued.
The Sheriff Principal, usually a King's Counsel (KC), is appointed by the King on the recommendation of the First Minister, who receives recommendations from the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. They must have been qualified as an advocate or solicitor for at least ten years and are responsible for the administrative oversight of the judicial system within the sheriffdom. The Sheriff Principal will also hear appeals against the judgement of their Sheriffs, hear certain cases themself and occasionally conduct major fatal accident inquiries.
Sheriffs Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife
edit- 1975–?1983: Robert Richardson Taylor [1]
- 1983–1990: Edward F. Bowen QC [2]
- 1990–1998: John J. Maguire [3]
- 1998–2000: John Wheatley QC
- 2000–2015: Alastair Dunlop QC[4]
- 2015–2023: Marysia W. Lewis [5]
- 2023–Present: Gillian Wade[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "No. 46443". The London Gazette. 31 December 1974. p. 13273.
- ^ "Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "John Maguire". The Herald. 7 May 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ^ "New Sheriff Principal for Tayside, Central and Fife". Judiciary of Scotland. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis". Judiciary of Scotland. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.