New Scottish Land Court chairman installed

Sheriff Roderick John MacLeod QC has been installed as the 10th chairman of the Scottish Land Court following the retirement of Lord McGhie.

The installation ceremony, held today at the Court’s premises at George House, Edinburgh, was presided over by the Lord President of the Court of Session and head of the Scottish judiciary, Lord Gill.

Sheriff MacLeod has taken the judicial title of Lord Minginish, after the parish in Skye in which he was brought up.

Lord Minginish also becomes President of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, the two posts having been linked since 1978.

The Land Court is statutorily obliged to have a Gaelic speaking member but Lord Minginish will be the first Gaelic speaker to occupy the chair.

The Land Court was created by the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 and opened its doors for business in 1912.

The Court is based in Edinburgh but travels throughout Scotland, hearing cases in local Sheriff Courts, village halls, community centres and the like.