Scottish legal authorities fail to reveal information about another sheriff’s case

Jack Brown was reported by a female lawyer, referred to as X, in 2018. He was suspended on full pay.

Police investigated and gathered evidence including from two other women. Prosecutors, however, did not pursue the case.

A Fitness For Office tribunal concluded that he had behaved “inappropriately” but that his actions did not justify his removal from office.

X challenged this finding and argued that it was unfair that the tribunal was unaware of other allegations.

Judge Lord Woolman quashed the tribunal’s decision in February this year. He said: “Were it competent for me to decide these matters, I would conclude that the case should be determined by a freshly-constituted tribunal.”

There has, however, been no update in the intervening months.

A Judicial Office spokesman said: “Judicial conduct is dealt with on a confidential basis – the Judicial Office for Scotland does not comment on Fitness For Office tribunals.”

But Michael Marra MSP has now written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to ask why there has been such a long delay. He said: “This case needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency for all of those involved and, crucially, to maintain public confidence in the justice system.

“The complainants will rightly be demanding swift resolution for themselves and for their families.”

The mystery around the case follows that of former sheriff Alistair Duff, who was arrested in January but about whom no new information has been released.

Mr Marra added: “While there is no apparent evidence that the severe delays of these two cases are in any way linked, everything must be done to avoid the appearance of favour or bias in our justice system.

“Everything should be done to prevent the public drawing their own conclusions.

“The Judicial Review concluded that the tribunal should be reconvened or a new tribunal arranged.”