News

Dungavel immigration centre has been criticised for its use of "disproportionate" measures to ensure detainees do not escape. A report published yesterday by HM chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, criticised the use of a dog to patrol the perimeter of Dungavel House, following the escape of a

A pilot of so-called flexible operating hours will go ahead in family and civil courts in England and Wales in spite of opposition from barristers. The UK government dropped its proposals for early starts and late finishes in the criminal courts after the Bar of England and Wales warned it would thr

Two police officers who were seriously injured, as well as the officers who came to their aid and arrested the man responsible, displayed extreme bravery, professionalism and sound judgement, a PIRC report has found. A 43-year-old man was deliberately struck by a police car during an attempt to arre

The audio of Professor Hector MacQueen's Stair Society Annual Lecture for 2018 is now available online. Professor MacQueen delivered the lecture on Friday entitled 'The Kings of Scots v The Earls of Douglas 1406-1455: a Game of Thrones?' and began with the minority of King James II 1437-1449 an

Journalist John Forsyth is compiling anecdotes for an item entitled 'Christmas Eve in the Courthouse' for BBC Radio 4 next month. Criminal courts often sit on Christmas Eve. Misjudged festive celebrations by Santa or his elves often lead to their appearance among the overnight custodies.

Pictured (L-R): Alexandra Smith, Emma de Sailly, Katrina Barclay, Hamish Lean and Paul Tinson Shepherd and Wedderburn is supporting the work of two rural charities in Scotland with charitable donations to RSABI and the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET).

A care assistant who said his fear of nappies constituted a disability has lost a discrimination case against his employer. The Irish worker, who cannot be named, was on sick leave for over three years before his dismissal on the grounds of incapacity last year.

A property owner who sued the Royal Bank of Scotland for breach of contract over the mortgage lender’s early termination and demand for repayment of three loans has had his £160,000 damages action against bank dismissed following an appeal. The Inner House of the Court of Session upheld

The Faculty of Advocates has given strong support for reform of the “archaic” offence of child cruelty, but warned that care must be taken to prevent everyday discipline from being criminalised. The Scottish government is looking at possible changes to section 12 of the Children and

The Supreme Court has received an application for permission to appeal in the matter of Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Appellant) v Wightman and others (Respondents). The application has been referred to three Supreme Court Justices - Lady Hale (President), Lord Reed (Deputy Pres

Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November 2018), Frank Jarvis discusses an important legal case (A v SSHD [2016] CSIH 38), the full impact of which has still to be felt. This 2016 Court of Session case concerns the Immigration Rules, as they apply to s

Five Scottish solicitors, admitted by the Law Society Council as solicitor advocates with extended rights of audience, were introduced to the court at a ceremony yesterday. Following the ceremony, the new solicitor advocates will be allowed to exercise their extended rights of audience in the higher

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) has supported Northern Ireland firm Lotus Property in the acquisition of a 1.3 million sq ft portfolio in Scotland valued at £60m.

A new charter is encouraging employers to treat workers fairly and be mindful of their safety if they are unable to get to work during extreme weather. Following the 'beast from the east' snow storm earlier this year, the Fair Work Charter for Severe Weather provides guiding principles to help emplo

Graham Ogilvy is disappointed by Mike Leigh’s newly released epic Peterloo. Peterloo, the brutal massacre inflicted on a Manchester crowd demanding political reform in 1819, was a milestone in the lengthy and, some would say, continuing, struggle to establish democracy in Britain and one of th