She said: “Congratulations to this worthy group who will be stepping up as full-time sheriffs from next month. I’m sure these new appointees will make a valuable contribution to our justice system in the courts where they’ll be working.

“It’s pleasing to see candidates from a range of backgrounds joining the ranks of sheriffs, particularly solicitors and solicitor advocates. We’re especially happy to see Iain Nicol’s appointment, given his long-time involvement with the Law Society particularly as convener of our Civil Justice Committee.

“It is a cause for some concern that in 2023 we still have a situation where more than 60 per cent of these new appointments are men. We must be aiming for a diverse judiciary in Scotland that properly reflects the population that it serves.”