The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, after the

Lord President of the Court of Session The Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General is the most senior judge in Scotland, the head of the judiciary, and the presiding judge of the College of Justice, the Court of Session, and the High Court of Justiciary. The L ...

. Originally ''clericus justiciarie'' or Clerk to the Court of Justiciary, the counterpart in the criminal courts of the

Lord Clerk Register The office of Lord Clerk Register is the oldest surviving Great Officer of State in Scotland, with origins in the 13th century. It historically had important functions in relation to the maintenance and care of the public records of Scotland. To ...

, the status of the office increased over time and the Justice-Clerk came to claim a seat on the Bench by practice and custom. This was recognised by the

Privy Council of Scotland The Privy Council of Scotland ( — 1 May 1708) was a body that advised the Scottish monarch. In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of m ...

in 1663 and the Lord Justice Clerk became the effective head of the reformed

High Court of Justiciary The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. The High Court is both a trial court and a court of appeal. As a trial court, the High Court sits on circuit at Parliament House or in the adjacent former Sheriff Cou ...

in 1672 when the court was reconstituted. The Lord Justice Clerk now rarely presides at criminal trials in the High Court, with most of his or her time being spent dealing with civil and criminal appeals. The Lord Justice Clerk has the title in both the

Court of Session The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh ...

and the

and, as ''President of the Second Division of the Inner House'', is in charge of the Second Division of Judges of the

Inner House The Inner House is the senior part of the Court of Session, the supreme civil court in Scotland; the Outer House forms the junior part of the Court of Session. It is a court of appeal and a court of first instance. The chief justice is th ...

of the Court of Session. The office is one of the

Great Officers of State Government in medieval monarchies generally comprised the king's companions, later becoming the Royal Household, from which the officers of state arose, initially having household and government duties. Later some of these officers became ...

of Scotland. The current Lord Justice Clerk is

Leeona Dorrian, Lady Dorrian Leeona June Dorrian, Lady Dorrian Privy council, PC (born 16 June 1957) is a Scottish advocate and judge who has served as the Lord Justice Clerk since 2016. She is the first woman to hold the position. She has been a Senator of the College of ...

, who was appointed to the position on 13 April 2016. In modern times, most judges appointed as Lord Justice Clerk later become Lord President of the Court of Session.

Officeholders

* William de Camera - Justice-Clerk to David II (1324–71) * Adam Forester * Before 1374: Alan de Lawedre of Whitslaid & Haltoun, etc. * 1426: James de Lawedre (d. after 1459)(Grandson of Alan) * 1478: William Halket of Belsico * 1489/90: Richard Lawson of Heirigs * 1507: James Henderson of Fordel (k.

Battle of Flodden The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton, (Brainston Moor) was a battle fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, resulting in an English ...

1513) * 1513: James Wishhart of Pittarrow * 1524: Nicholas Crawfurd of Oxengangs * 1537:

Adam Otterburn Adam Otterburn of Auldhame and Redhall (died 6 July 1548) was a Scottish lawyer and diplomat. He was king's advocate to James V of Scotland and secretary to Mary of Guise and Regent Arran. The King's lawyer The law brought against the Douglas f ...

of Reidhall * 1537: Thomas Scot of Pitgorn * 1539:

Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule Thomas Bellenden or Bannatyne of Auchnoule (c. 1485 – c. 1547), courtier of James V of Scotland, Judge from 1535, Director of Chancery from 1538, Lord Justice Clerk from 1539, member of the royal council, ambassador to England, and Protestant sy ...

* 1540:

Henry Balnaves Henry Balnaves (1512? – February 1570) was a Scottish politician, Lord Justice Clerk, and religious reformer. Biography Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, around 1512, he was educated at the University of St Andrews and on the continent, where he ado ...

* 1547: Sir

John Bellenden of Auchnole & Broughton Sir John Bellenden of Auchnole and Broughton (died 1 October 1576) was, before 1544, Director of Chancery, and was appointed Lord Justice Clerk on 25 June 1547, succeeding his father Thomas Bellenden of Auchnoule. John was knighted before April 154 ...

(d.1576) * 1577: Sir

Lewis Bellenden of Auchnole & Broughton Sir Lewis Bellenden of Auchnole and Broughton (c. 1552 – 27 August 1591, in Edinburgh), was the eldest son of Sir John Bellenden of Auchnole & Broughton, whom he succeeded as Lord Justice Clerk on 15 March 1577. Career He was knighted about 157 ...

(d.1591) * 1591: Sir John Cockburn of

Ormiston Ormiston is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, near Tranent, Humbie, Pencaitland and Cranston, located on the north bank of the River Tyne at an elevation of about . The village was the first planned village in Scotland, founded in 1735 ...

(d.1623) * 1625: Sir

George Elphinstone George Elphinstone of Blythswood (died 1634) was a Scottish landowner, courtier, and Provost of Glasgow. Life George Elphinstone was the son of George Elphinstone of Blythswood (died 2 April 1585), a leading Glasgow merchant and shipowner, and ...

of Blythswood * 1634: Sir James Carmichael of that Ilk * 1637: Sir John Hamilton of Orbiston * 1651: Sir

Robert Moray Sir Robert Moray (alternative spellings: Murrey, Murray) FRS (1608 or 1609 – 4 July 1673) was a Scottish soldier, statesman, diplomat, judge, spy, and natural philosopher. He was well known to Charles I and Charles II, and to the French ...

* 1663: Sir

John Home, of Renton, Lord Renton Sir John Home of Renton, Lord Renton (died 13 July 1671) was appointed Lord Justice Clerk by King Charles II. He was also a Senator of the College of Justice with the title Lord Renton. Life John Home was the son of Sir Alexander Home of Renton ...

* 1671: Sir

James Lockhart of Lee Sir James Lockhart, Lord Lee (died 1674) was a Scottish courtier, politician and judge, a royalist commander of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Life He was son of Sir James Lockhart XI of Lee, of a lairdly family, by his wife, Jean Weir of Stone ...

(d. 4 June 1674) * 1674: Sir

William Lockhart of Lee Sir William Lockhart of Lee (1621–1675), was a Scottish soldier and diplomat who fought for the Covenanters during the 1638 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Following Royalist defeat in the 1642 to 1647 First English Civil War, Lockhart ...

* 1675: Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, Lord Craigie * 1680:

Richard Maitland, 4th Earl of Lauderdale Richard Maitland, 4th Earl of Lauderdale (20 June 1653, Haltoun House – 1695, Paris, France) was a Scottish politician. Life He was the eldest son of Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale, and his spouse Elizabeth Lauder. Before succeeding ...

* 1684: Sir James Foulis of Colinton, Lord Colinton * 1688: Sir

John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair PC (10 November 1648 – 8 January 1707) was a Scottish politician and lawyer. As Joint Secretary of State in Scotland 1691–1695, he played a key role in suppressing the 1689-1692 Jacobite Rising and was for ...

* 1690: Sir George Campbell of Cessnock * 1692: Sir

Adam Cockburn of Ormiston Adam Cockburn, Laird of Ormiston, Lord Ormiston (1656 – 16 April 1735), was a Scottish administrator, politician and judge. He served as Commissioner for Haddington Constabulary in the parliaments of 1681-2 and 1689, and in the conventions ...

, Lord Ormiston * 1699: Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, Lord Pollok * 1702: Roderick Mackenzie of Prestonhall, Lord Prestonhall * 1704: Sir William Hamilton of Whitelaw, Lord Whitelaw * 1705: Sir

, Lord Ormiston * 1710: Sir

James Erskine, Lord Grange James Erskine, Lord Grange (167920 January 1754) was a Scottish advocate, judge and politician. He served as Lord Justice Clerk and a Lord of Justiciary. The son of Charles Erskine, Earl of Mar, by his spouse Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Georg ...

* 1735:

Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton (1692 – 13 December 1766) was a notable Scottish judge and Lord Justice Clerk. Family Andrew Fletcher was born at Saltoun Castle near Pencaitland, east of Edinburgh, the son of Henry Fletcher of Saltoun (d.1733 ...

* 1748: Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald * 1763: Gilbert Elliot, Lord Minto * 1766: Thomas Miller, Lord Barskimming * 1787:

Robert Macqueen, Lord Braxfield Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield (4 May 1722 – 30 May 1799) was a Scottish advocate and judge. Life McQueen was born at Braxfield House near Lanark on 4 May 1722, son of John McQueen. He studied law at Edinburgh University and was admitted t ...

* 1799:

David Rae, Lord Eskgrove Sir David Rae, Lord Eskgrove, 1st Baronet FRSE FSA (1724–1804) was a Scottish advocate and judge. Life He was the son of Agnes, daughter of Sir David Forbes of Newhall and Rev David Rae of St Andrews, an episcopalian minister. Some source ...

* 1804:

Charles Hope, Lord Granton Rt Hon Lord Charles Hope FRSE (29 June 1763 – 30 October 1851) was a Scottish politician and judge. Life Hope was born on 29 June 1763, the eldest son of Mary Breton, the only daughter of Eliab Breton of Forty Hill, Enfield (a granddaughter o ...

* 1811: David Boyle, Lord Boyle * 1841:

John Hope, Lord Hope John Hope PC FRSE (1794–1858) was a Scottish judge and landowner. Life He was the eldest son of Charles Hope, Lord President of the Court of Session, and Lady Charlotte Hope, and was born on 26 May 1794. His younger sister Louisa Hope w ...

* 1858:

John Inglis, Lord Glencorse Rt Hon John Inglis, Lord Glencorse FRSE DCL LLD (21 August 1810 – 20 August 1891) was a Scottish politician and judge. He was Lord President of the Court of Session (1867–1891).George Patton, Lord Glenalmond George Patton, Lord Glenalmond, (1803 – 20 September 1869) was a Scottish politician and judge. Life He studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He studied at University of Glasgow and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was Conservative Mem ...

* 1869: James Moncreiff, Lord Moncreiff * 1888:

John Macdonald, Lord Kingsburgh Sir John Hay Athole Macdonald, Lord Kingsburgh, KCB, PC, PRSSA, FRS, FRSE (27 December 1836 – 9 May 1919) was a Scottish Conservative Party politician and later a judge. Life Macdonald was born on 28 December 1836 at 29 Great King Str ...

* 1915:

Charles Dickson, Lord Dickson Charles Scott Dickson FRSE LLD (13 September 1850, Glasgow – 5 August 1922) was a Scottish Unionist politician and judge. Life Charles was born in Glasgow the son of Dr John Robert Dickson. His elder brother was James Douglas Hamilton Di ...

* 1922: Robert Munro, Lord Alness * 1933:

Craigie Aitchison, Lord Aitchison Craigie Mason Aitchison (26 January 1882 – 2 May 1941) was a Scotland, Scottish politician and judge. Early life Mason was born on 16 January 1882 in Falkirk, the second son of Elizabeth Mason Craigie and Revd James Aitchison, senior mini ...

* 1941: Thomas Cooper, Lord Cooper * 1947:

Alexander Moncrieff, Lord Moncrieff Alexander Moncrieff, Lord Moncrieff FRSE (14 August 1870 – 5 August 1949), was a Scottish lawyer and judge, who was created a Senator of the College of Justice. Life Alexander Moncrieff was the third son of Hope Margaret Pattison and her hus ...

* 1947:

George Thomson, Lord Thomson George Reid Thomson, Lord Thomson, (1893 – 15 April 1962) was a Scottish Labour Party politician and judge. Educated at the South African College, Cape Town, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he was a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland ...

* 1962:

William Grant, Lord Grant William Grant, Lord Grant, (19 June 1909 – 19 November 1972) was a Scottish advocate, a Unionist politician, and a judge. Born to the Grant's distillery family who created Glenfiddich whisky, he was one of Scotland's Great Officers of Stat ...

* 1972:

John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley John Thomas Wheatley, Baron Wheatley, (17 January 1908 – 28 July 1988) was a Scottish Labour politician and judge. Biography Wheatley was born on 17 January 1908 in Shettleston, Glasgow, the third and youngest child of Janet (1877� ...

* 1985: Donald Ross, Lord Ross * 1997: William Cullen, Lord Cullen * 2001: Brian Gill, Lord Gill * 2012: Colin Sutherland, Lord Carloway * 2016:

References

*For listings to 1637 (may be wanting) refer to ''The Staggering State of the Scots' Statesmen'', by

Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet Sir John Scot, Lord Scotstarvit (1585–1670), was a Scottish laird, advocate, judge, politician and author. He was Director of Chancery and a Lord of Session. His surname is often spelt as Scott, and Scotstarvit is also spelt as Scotstarvet or S ...

, Director of Chancery, Edinburgh, 1754, p. 183. {{High Court of Justiciary Lists of judges in Scotland