Lady Carmichael joins the bench

Ailsa Carmichael QC, was sworn in by the Lord President, Lord Carloway, in the First Division courtroom.

Lord Carloway said: “Lady Carmichael, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you as a Senator of the College of Justice. You have had a distinguished career since passing advocate in 1993 and taking silk in 2008.

“This has included a specialism in public and administrative law, notably in asylum and immigration cases. I am sure that your skills in these expanding fields will prove a major asset to the bench.

“We all wish you a rewarding life as part of our enthusiastic and happy cohort.”

At the bar, Ailsa Carmichael became a recognised specialist in public and administrative law and appeared in a number of leading cases in the Court of Session, the House of Lords and the Supreme Court. She was junior counsel to the Fingerprint Inquiry Scotland, a major public inquiry arising from the Shirley McKie case.