Scottish criminal bar chief steps down after two years at the helm

The president of the Scottish Criminal Bar Association (SCBA) has announced his intention not to seek re-election at the group’s AGM on 20th January 2017.

Thomas Ross said: “Being elected to lead this elite group of criminal practitioners was the biggest honour of my professional career, but after two years’ service it is time to step aside and allow others to take the association forward with fresh ideas.”

He added: “The office-bearers and members have been fantastically supportive and the role has given me the opportunity to meet some wonderful people – I would recommend it to anybody”.

The out-going president confirmed, however, that he intended to move onto other challenges, saying: “I left the MacKinnon Stable in 2015 with the purpose of exploring the best way of providing criminal advocacy services to the profession but the SCBA role made it necessary to put this project on ice – I’m looking forward to tackling it with increased enthusiasm in 2017.”