Jackson to step down as Dean of Faculty

Gordon Jackson QC is to resign as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, as he faces disciplinary proceedings over comments he made over last month's trial of Alex Salmond.

He announced today that he would leave office with effect from 30 June, at the latest, and sooner if, before that date, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission remits a complaint for consideration by the Faculty’s Complaints Committee.

Mr Jackson referred himself to the SLCC after publication of remarks he was recorded making on a train while the trial was in progress (click here for report). In addition to derogatory references to Mr Salmond, he mentioned the names of two of the complainers, whose identities were protected by court order from being published, and mentioned his strategy for cross examination of one woman as being "All I need to do is put a smell on her."

He was elected as Dean in June 2016 after his predecessor James Wolffe QC was appointed Lord Advocate.

On his decision today he said: "It would not be appropriate for me to remain as Dean at a time when the Faculty was considering disciplinary proceedings regarding my conduct... I do not intend to make any further comment."