James Wolffe QC recommended for Lord Advocate

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has recommended the appointment of James Wolffe QC and Alison Di Rollo as Scotland’s new law officers.

Subject to the approval of the Parliament, Mr Wolffe will take up the position of Lord Advocate, replacing Frank Mulholland QC who stepped down following the Scottish parliamentary election.

Senior advocate depute Alison Di Rollo will become the new Solicitor General. Ms Di Rollo succeeds Lesley Thomson. Ms Thomson, who was appointed to the post in 2011, has informed the First Minister that she wishes to pursue new challenges.

The appointments will be made by the Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister, with the agreement of the Scottish Parliament. The appointments, if approved, will complete the First Minister’s newly-appointed ministerial team.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I am extremely pleased to recommend the appointments of James Wolffe and Alison Di Rollo as Scotland’s senior law officers.

“James has an outstanding legal background and extensive experience at all levels, including the House of Lords, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

“Alison led the work of the ground-breaking National Sexual Crimes Unit (NSCU) for three years, having previously held the role of deputy. Her outstanding leadership in this most sensitive of areas has inspired confidence in all connected to it.”

Mr Wolffe said: “I have been invited by the First Minister to accept her nomination to be Lord Advocate, subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament. If appointed as Lord Advocate, I will require to resign from the office of Dean of Faculty.

“The Faculty of Advocates is one of Scotland’s great national institutions. To have been elected by the Faculty to serve it, as its Dean, has been a great privilege. I have enjoyed the support of an outstanding team of office-bearers and an active Faculty Council; as well as of all the Faculty’s staff, who do so much hard work for the profession. I thank them all.

“Above all, I wish to express my gratitude, at this time, for the strong support which the whole Faculty has given me, as it always gives its elected Dean, throughout my tenure of that office.”