Sheriff Andrew Lothian

I have never felt moved to write to your otherwise excellent publication on any previous occasion but do so now in respect of the new item yesterday concerning the sad and sudden death of former Sheriff Andrew Lothian.

The news item recording this death was entirely proper but then to proceed to highlight three negative incidents in a life fully lived does not do Scottish Legal News any credit. The item lacked balance in not mentioning any of Andrew Lothian’s significant achievements such as writing the erudite and entertaining Petronius column in the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland for more than 30 years and his wisdom as a sheriff who had sound judgement but also compassion and true understanding of flawed human beings. I invited him to be an honorary lecturer at Glasgow University in 1983 where I then lectured in criminal procedure and he delivered a series of lectures on this topic from the perspective of a sheriff in Glasgow which never failed to engage, inspire, and inform in equal measure.

Andrew Lothian was a complicated man with a broad hinterland of cultural interests who enhanced the bench with intellectual ability, personality and humanity. On the occasion of his death, to highlight three transgressions without even a nod towards the total sum of the man is a gross injustice which should offend all those who work in the legal profession. Among those attending his funeral yesterday included those holding the highest judicial office and many long-standing friends and colleagues whose lives had been greatly enriched simply by knowing Andrew. This is surely a truer reflection of the proper esteem in which he was held than the sordid aspects of his life which you highlighted might suggest.

Yours sincerely

Jessica M Burns

Glasgow

We stand rebuked and have removed the offending item from our website. We offer our apologies for any upset caused.