First summary sheriffs appointed

The first summary sheriffs who will sit under the reformed court structure in Scotland have been named.

Under the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, the new judicial office of summary sheriff will deal with lower lever criminal cases and lower value civil claims, the latter under a procedure designed to enable litigants to present their own cases.

Twelve successful applicants have been named, along with stipendiary magistrates whose office is abolished and who will become summary sheriffs from 1 April 2016. They are:

• for Glasgow & Strathkelvin, sitting at Glasgow Sheriff Court: Brian Cameron, Tony Kelly, Frances McCartney and Mary McCrory, along with current stipendiary magistrates Robin Christie and Allan Findlay;
• for Grampian, Highland & Islands, based at Aberdeen Sheriff Court: Margaret Hodge, Christine McCrossan and Morag McLaughlin;
• for South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway, based between Airdrie, Ayr and Hamilton sheriff courts: Sara Matheson, Mhairi Mactaggart, Andrew McIntyre and Allan McKay;
• for Tayside, Central & Fife, based at Falkirk Sheriff Court: Derek Livingston.

Margaret Hodge and Allan McKay are members of the Facuty of Advocates; the other appointees are solicitors.

The part time stipendiary magistrates who will become part time summary sheriffs from 1 April are J Kevin Duffy, Colin Dunipace, Sukhwinder Gill, David Griffiths, J Euan Edmont and Diana McConnell.

The new appointees will take up office in April and May on a salary of £106,040 per annum.

Appointments were by the Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister, following recommendations by the independent Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.