Lord President’s ‘tap on the shoulder judge routine’ : Solicitor Philip Mann appointed as £128K a year sheriff of Grampian,Highlands & Islands

NOMINATED by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, who in actuality plays only a bit part in sending the Lord President, Lord Hamilton’s ‘tap on the shoulder job offer to a legal colleague’ onto the Queen for approval, solicitor Philip Mann of Moray based law form Stephen & Robb has now been appointed as sheriff of Grampian, Highlands & Islands, earning a taxpayer funded salary of £128,296 a year plus expenses.

The law firm’s website still lists Mr Mann as “still available to give you the benefit of his considerable experience in many areas of the law but principally in buying and selling properties, Wills and Powers of Attorney and reparation claims”

The Scottish Government Press Release :

Appointment of Mr Philip Mann, solicitor, as sheriff of Grampian, Highlands and Islands based at Kirkwall and Lerwick.

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Mr Philip Mann, solicitor, as sheriff of Grampian, Highlands and Islands based at Kirkwall and Lerwick.

First Minister Alex Salmond nominated Mr Mann for appointment, which was made on 16 April, on the basis of a report by the independent Judicial Appointments Board.

Mr Mann will take up his role on 2 July.

Philip Mann was educated at Keith Grammar School and Aberdeen University where he gained his degree in Law.  He was admitted as a solicitor in 1975 when he joined Fyfe and Murray, Solicitors, Greenock, having served his apprenticeship with Stephen & Robb, Solicitors and Estate Agents, Keith.  He re-joined Stephen & Robb in 1976 and has remained there throughout his career.  He is now their senior partner.  In 2002 Mr Mann became an honorary sheriff for the sheriff court district of Elgin.  In 2006 he was appointed as a part-time sheriff and in that capacity sits in courts all over Scotland.

The salary of a sheriff is £128,296 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 1 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.