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Lord Justice Clerk
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (Government in Scotland).svg
Incumbent
Lady Dorrian
since 13 April 2016
Style The Right Honourable
Appointer Monarch on the advice of the First Minister
Term length Life tenure with compulsory retirement at 75
Salary £215,256 (Salary Group 2)


The Lord Justice Clerk is a very important judge in Scotland. They are the second most senior judge, right after the Lord President of the Court of Session. Think of them as a top leader in Scotland's legal system.

This job started a long time ago, around the 1300s. Back then, the Lord Justice Clerk was more like a clerk for the main criminal court. But over many years, the role became much more important. By 1663, it was officially decided that the Lord Justice Clerk would be a judge. In 1672, when the main criminal court (called the High Court of Justiciary) was set up again, the Lord Justice Clerk became its effective head.

Today, the Lord Justice Clerk doesn't usually lead criminal trials. Instead, they spend most of their time hearing appeals. This means they review decisions made in earlier civil (non-criminal) and criminal cases.

What the Lord Justice Clerk Does

The Lord Justice Clerk holds their title in both the Court of Session (Scotland's main civil court) and the High Court of Justiciary (Scotland's main criminal court).

Leading the Second Division

They are also known as the President of the Second Division of the Inner House. This means they lead a group of judges within the Inner House of the Court of Session. The Inner House handles appeals in civil cases.

A Great Officer of State

The Lord Justice Clerk is one of the Great Officers of State of Scotland. These are very old and important positions in the Scottish government.

Who is the Current Lord Justice Clerk?

The current Lord Justice Clerk is Leeona Dorrian, Lady Dorrian. She was appointed to this important role on 13 April 2016.

Becoming Lord President

In modern times, many judges who become Lord Justice Clerk later go on to become the Lord President of the Court of Session. This shows how important and respected the role of Lord Justice Clerk is in Scotland's legal system.

Past Officeholders

Here is a list of some of the people who have held the important position of Lord Justice Clerk throughout history:


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