Judicial Appointments : Scotland gets two new ‘floating’ sheriffs

George Alexander Way and James Hunter Williamson have been appointed as all-Scotland ‘floating sheriffs’, to be based in Dundee and Kirkcaldy.

Scottish Government Release :

Appointment of sheriffs

22/04/2009

Her Majesty the Queen, on the recommendation of the First Minister, has appointed Mr George Alexander Way and Mr James Hunter Williamson as all-Scotland floating sheriffs based in Dundee and Kirkcaldy.

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

They both will have a commission enabling them to serve where required throughout Scotland's sheriff courts, but in practice they will be expected to sit mostly in the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife.

Mr Way (52) graduated from Edinburgh University in 1978. He was admitted as a solicitor in November 1980 and as a Solicitor Advocate in November 2003. Since 2003 Mr Way has been the Procurator Fiscal to HM Court of the Lord Lyon and the Senior Litigation Partner with Beveridge & Kellas SSC in Edinburgh since 1983. He is a Past President of the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts and Convenor of Civil Justice on the Council of the Law Society of Scotland. He is an accredited mediator and arbiter.

Mr Williamson (48) graduated from the University of Dundee in 1982, and gained a Diploma in Legal practice in 1983. He was admitted as a solicitor in September 1983 and as a part-time sheriff in 2003. Mr Williamson is currently a partner in the Court Department, specialising in criminal law and civil court work with Messer Lawson Coull & Duncan in Dundee.

The salary of a sheriff is £128,296 per annum.

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland was established by Ministers in 2002. The Board is an independent advisory body whose 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.