Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife facts for kids
The Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife is like the main judge or leader of the courts in a big area of Scotland. This area is called a sheriffdom. Scotland has six of these sheriffdoms.
In this sheriffdom, many judges, called sheriffs, work. They hear cases in eight different courts. These courts are in towns like Alloa, Dundee, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Forfar, Kirkcaldy, Perth, and Stirling. The way these sheriffdoms are set up today started in 1975. Before that, Scotland had 12 smaller sheriffdoms.
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What a Sheriff Principal Does
The Sheriff Principal is a very important person in the legal system. They are usually a highly experienced lawyer, often called a King's Counsel (KC). The King appoints them, but only after the First Minister suggests them. The First Minister gets ideas from a group called the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.
To become a Sheriff Principal, a person must have worked as a lawyer for at least ten years. Their main job is to make sure the courts in their area run smoothly. They also listen to appeals. This means if someone disagrees with a decision made by one of their sheriffs, the Sheriff Principal might review it. Sometimes, they even hear important cases themselves. They can also lead big investigations into accidents where someone has died.
How a Sheriff Principal is Chosen
Choosing a Sheriff Principal is a careful process. First, the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland looks for suitable lawyers. They recommend people to the First Minister. The First Minister then suggests a person to the King. Finally, the King makes the official appointment. This ensures that only very skilled and experienced lawyers get these important jobs.
Past Sheriffs Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife
It's interesting to look back at who has held this important role. Here are the people who have been the Sheriff Principal for Tayside, Central and Fife since 1975:
- 1975–1983: Robert Richardson Taylor
- 1983–1990: Edward F. Bowen QC
- 1990–1998: John J. Maguire
- 1998–2000: John Wheatley QC
- 2000–2015: Alastair Dunlop
- 2015–present: Marysia W. Lewis
See also
- Historical development of Scottish sheriffdoms