News

A decision granting planning permission for a new wind farm on the habitat of the endangered wildcat population is to face judicial review. Wildcat Haven has raised £250,000 over four years to challenge the decision of Scottish ministers in court. Its petition to save the Clashindarroch Forest

Joanna Cherry KC MP is to propose that the power to amend the role of Scotland’s law officers be devolved to the Scottish Parliament in a 10-minute rule bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday. At present the lord advocate’s role as head of the systems of criminal prosecution and

A Chinese chess champion stripped of his title after defecating in his hotel bath has launched legal proceedings against the competition organisers. Yan Chenglong, 48, won the 2023 National Chinese Chess King Competition in Lingshui, China last month, but subsequently had his title and prize mo

Westwater Advocates’ Calum MacNeill KC and junior counsel David Anderson recently represented the successful respondent in the case of Redcroft Care Homes Limited v City of Edinburgh Council [2023] CSOH 95. The case involved a challenge to a local authority’s decision to decline to provi

The conjoined fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay has commenced at Falkirk Sheriff Court. Procurator fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: “We acknowledge that the wait for these proceedings has been too long and has caused

Dear Editor Can I say what a delight it is to read anything penned by Robert Shiels?

Len Murray, who died on December 22 aged 90 after a short illness, was one of the best known of his generation of lawyers who enjoyed a full and active retirement as a popular after-dinner speaker and authority on Robert Burns. Described by a High Court Judge as “the most respected of his gene

BTO has announced the addition of new partner Martin Walker to its professional discipline & clinical defence team. Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in regulation of professional conduct law, he brings a wealth of experience to the team led by the band 1 ranked Laura Don

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Israeli public figures accuse judiciary of ignoring incitement to genocide in Gaza | The Guardian

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan is to appear in court on a charge of trespassing near hot springs at Yellowstone National Park. The 70-year-old actor will appear in court in Wyoming on 23 January 2024, the BBC reports.

Lord McEwan has passed away at the age of 80.

A total of £148 million will be invested in community justice services next year to help reduce reoffending. The funding in the draft 2024-25 Budget includes an additional £14 million to encourage wider use of robust community-based interventions where appropriate.

Organisations that support victims of crime have been awarded a total of £405,451 from a fund financed by penalties imposed on offenders who received a court fine. Eight organisations – including Victim Support Scotland, Dumbarton District Women’s Aid, Migrant Help, The Moira Fund,

Lindsays has revealed a second successive year of sales totalling in excess of £170 million through its residential property teams based in Edinburgh, Dundee and Perth during 2023. The total has been hailed a significant success for the firm in the face of what it describes as a “long ha

Property firm Rettie & Co is forecasting Scottish house prices to rise by around 1.5 per cent in 2024, with overall residential property transaction activity increasing to approximately 4.3 per cent. Rettie sees continued pressure on the private rental sector (PRS), with double-digit increases i