First summary sheriffs appointed

The Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 created a new judicial office of summary sheriff to deal with some types of civil and criminal cases in the sheriff court. The move is part of the government’s reform of the system to improve efficiency and ensure the right cases are heard in the right courts.

Twelve summary sheriffs have now been appointed and will take up office in April and May. These are as follows:

Summary sheriffs appointed for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, sitting at Glasgow Sheriff Court, are: Brian Cameron, Robin Christie, Allan Findlay, Tony Kelly, Frances McCartney and Mary McCrory.

Summary sheriffs appointed for Grampian, Highland and Islands, based at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, are: Margaret Hodge, Christine McCrossan and Morag McLaughlin.

Summary sheriffs appointed for South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, and based between Airdrie, Ayr and Hamilton sheriff courts, are: Sara Matheson, Mhairi Mactaggart, Andrew McIntyre and Allan McKay.

Derek Livingston has been appointed as a summary sheriff for Tayside, Central and Fife based at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

Part-time stipendiary magistrates will become part-time summary sheriffs from 1 April: J Kevin Duffy, Colin Dunipace, Sukhwinder Gill, David Griffiths, J Euan Edmont, Diana McConnell.