Tributes paid to ‘outstanding’ Lord McCluskey

The widely-known legal figure was born in 1929, the son of solicitor Francis McCluskey, and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates three years after his graduation from the University of Edinburgh in 1952.

He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1967, and went on to serve as Solicitor General for Scotland in Harold Wilson’s Labour government from 1974-79 and as a Senator of the College of Justice - a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary - from 1984.

He became a life peer in 1976, becoming Baron McCluskey.

He retired from the bench in 2004 but continued to sit occasionally as a judge, and made high-profile interventions over issues like corroboration.

Gordon Jackson QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said: “Lord McCluskey was a giant of Scots law. He had an outstanding career as counsel, law officer and judge. Although often outspoken, his views were always challenging and merited the most careful consideration.”

Graham Matthew, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “Lord McCluskey was someone of immense stature within the legal profession who conducted himself without fear or favour. He was a knowledgeable, highly capable and extremely dedicated individual who played a central role in the administration of our justice system, not least in his roles as Solicitor General, Sheriff principal and as a Court of Session and High Court judge. His role as a member of the House of Lords whether as a Law Officer or as a member of the Cross Benches ensured that he was able to contribute to the making of the law as well as its interpretation.

“He was admired by many in the legal profession for the deft, humane, principled and persistent way he handled his legal work on the bench or in the House of Lords. He was also very good company and had a great sense of humour.

“His contribution to the law was recognised with a lifetime achievement award from the legal community earlier this year, and in the standing ovation which followed his speech at the awards ceremony. He will be much missed and we offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Lord McCluskey was “one of the outstanding Scots lawyers of his generation”.