News

A witness who failed to attend court after his son was rushed to hospital following an accident has had a finding of contempt of court quashed. The Criminal Appeal Court observed that the sheriff had failed to take up an invitation to hear evidence before making the finding and therefore did not hav

Lord Lang Another House of Lords committee has called for the Scotland Bill to be halted owing to fears it will create “serious risks of future disputes and instability” in the country.

Paul Wheelhouse The overall number of racist incidents recorded by the police in Scotland in 2013-14 was up by 3.9 per cent compared to 2012-13.

A Scottish man jailed in the US for three decades is awaiting a decision that could set him free or see him retried and sentenced to death in a landmark case that may result in the erosion of protections afforded by the sixth and 14th amendments of the Constitution. Tom Richey was jailed in 1987 age

Police and women's campaigners have backed proposals to allow judges to instruct jurors to dismiss preconceived ideas about rape, rapists and victims of rape. Rape Crisis Scotland said trials are affected by ideas such as how soon a rape should be reported or whether a woman resisted. A bill is curr

Reform of legislation relating to the private rented housing sector has been applauded by the Faculty of Advocates, although it has queried some aspects of the proposed changes. In a written submission to MSPs on the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill, the Faculty said it was “undesirable

Lesley Ward The School Closure Review Panel (SCRP), a new statutory body, independent of the Scottish government, has refused consent to Aberdeenshire Council’s plans to close two dyslexia units, and has remitted the proposal back to the council.

James Wolffe QC

A motorist who shouted “stick it up your arse” to a parking attendant who had given him penalty charge notice has failed in an appeal against conviction for behaving in a “threatening or abusive manner” which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer “fear and alarm”. The Crimina

Calum Steele A senior police officers' representative has warned that the Scottish government would be foolish to continue police cuts following the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Frank Mulholland QC The Lord Advocate has hailed Scotland's crime campus as world leading and praised its “outstanding” team.

Alan Meek The recent case of BIS v Smith, Peto and Wright serves as a reminder of the requirements for handling collective redundancies writes Alan Meek.

Cath Karlin New research has found that around eight out of ten children and young people with experience of parental separation or divorce would prefer their parents to split up if they are unhappy, rather than stay together.

From left: Lord Campbell, Sir General Mike Jackson and Lord Hodge

Lord Sumption Justice of the Supreme Court, Lord Sumption, delivered the James Wood lecture at the University of Glasgow.