SCOTLAND’S new second top judge has been appointed following a “long and distinguished” legal career.
The Rt Hon Lord Beckett will succeed the Rt Hon Lady Dorrian, who was the first woman appointed to a senior judicial office in Scotland, as the country’s second most senior judge after she retires on Monday.
Lord Beckett has been appointed Scotland’s new Lord Justice Clerk by the King, and will also hold the office of president of the Second Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session and serve as the chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council.
Lord Beckett was nominated for appointment by the First Minister, John Swinney, based on the advice of a selection panel.
Swinney (below) congratulated Lord Beckett on his appointment as he said: “I offer my warmest congratulations to Lord Beckett on his appointment as Lord Justice Clerk, reflecting a long and distinguished career of service in Scotland’s legal system.
“The Lord Justice Clerk is one of the great offices of state in Scotland and the second most senior figure in the judicial system, with a prominent role in the criminal appeals system. It is a significant appointment that requires careful consideration, so I am very grateful to the members of the selection panel for their advice before I nominated Lord Beckett.
“Lady Dorrian was the first woman appointed to such a senior judicial office in Scotland. Her legacy will be significant, not only for that reason but as a result of her advocacy for vulnerable victims and witnesses, and her commitment to making court proceedings more transparent. Lady Dorrian leaves office with my gratitude and best wishes for the future.”
Lord Beckett (below), a former solicitor general, was appointed as a Supreme Courts judge in May 2016, then elevated to the Inner House of the Court of Session in July 2023.
He has been involved in work to review court procedures for sexual offence cases, improve trauma training for judges and simplify the guidance given to juries.
Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian said: “It has been a huge privilege to be Lord Justice Clerk and I am pleased to be handing over to Lord Beckett. He is passionate about improving the experience of complainers and witnesses in court. He was part of the working group which I chaired on the management of sexual offence cases which will stand him in good stead for the reforms which will be coming in over the next few years.
“His experience will also be valuable as he takes over as chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council. As a former chair of the Judicial Institute and someone who has been leading the way on trauma-informed training for the judiciary, he is ideally suited for this role.”
