News

Defence lawyers are preparing to boycott the pilot scheme for juryless rape trials. The Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) is to ballot members on the new proposal contained in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Judges have ruled that Walkers must pay VAT on its mini poppadoms because they are really just crisps. The snack giant had argued that that its Sensations Poppadoms were not crisps and should not attract sales tax.

The recommendations of an independent group set up to advise on how Scotland’s museums and galleries can better reflect the country’s role in empire, colonialism, and historic slavery have been fully accepted by the Scottish government. Established following a motion in the Scottish Parl

A decision has been made to hold a fatal accident inquiry seven years after the death of baby Sophia Smith at the Royal Hospital for Children at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus, Glasgow. Crown Counsel have concluded, based on the available evidence, that there will be no criminal proc

Sophie Mills has been promoted to the new position of principal solicitor, governance and charities at the WS Society. Ms Mills will work with chief executive Robert Pirrie in assuming responsibility for the society’s administration and consultancy services to a portfolio of third-party charit

Former BBC Scotland lawyer Alistair Bonnington, 71, is suing TV licensing chiefs on the basis he was falsely accused of not paying for a licence. He said he was hounded with the threat of prosecution after moving to his new house, despite having a licence.

Stealing a dog or a cat is to become a specific criminal offence in the rest of the UK, despite the existence of the crime of theft. The Pet Abduction Bill, a private member's bill introduced at Westminster by Southend West MP Anna Firth and now formally backed by government ministers, proposes to c

Pop star Madonna is being sued by two concertgoers because she started her show two hours late. New York City men Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden bought tickets for Madonna's show last month. It was due to begin at 8:30 p.m., but Madonna did not take to the stage until after 10:45pm

Three men who were victims of IRA bombings can sue Gerry Adams in a personal capacity, a judge in the English High Court has ruled. Mr Justice Soole ruled that the victims would not be able to sue the IRA itself or the former Sinn Féin leader as its “representative” but that perso

Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee has failed to involve defence lawyers in its consideration of plans for juryless trials in rape cases. Writing on X, the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association said that the committed had chose "not to invite" the body to give evidence on parts 5 and 6 of the Victi

The Crown Office has lodged first notices for fatal accident inquiries into the deaths of 66-year-old William Lothian at HMP Edinburgh in 2021 and of 77-year-old William Tucker at HMP Low Moss in 2022. Mr Lothian was found dead in his cell within HMP Edinburgh on the morning of 14 May

Arnold Schwarzenegger spent several hours being detained by German customs officials in a row over a luxury watch. The action movie star turned climate change campaigner allegedly failed to declare a custom-made watch by Audemars Piguet, which he intended to auction to raise funds for The Schwarzene

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Will new criminal bills turn India into a police state ahead of 2024 vote?

Diane Ireland has been named as Inksters' new chief operating officer. Ms Ireland has worked for Inksters for several years as the firm's legal process engineer.

Addleshaw Goddard has continued the growth of its infrastructure and energy team with the recruitment of an experienced new partner in Edinburgh. Euan Wilson, who joins from Dentons, will work closely with the firm's wider Infrastructure and Energy team with a particular focus on infrastructure asse