Areas of Practice

Criminal Trials
Criminal Appeals
Human Rights
Employment Law
Extradition

Qualifications

LL.B, Dip LP

Appointments

Advocate Depute

Devil Masters

Sheriff John Morris QC
Maggie Scott QC
Derek Francis

Additional Information

Extensive experience of presenting CPD seminars including Human Rights, Disclosure, Counter-Terrorism, legislative and case law developments, Advocacy, Expert Witnesses, Sexual Offences and Extradition.
Has appeared in print and broadcast media commenting on various legal matters.

Notable Cases

Starrs v Ruxton 1999 SCCR 1052 (Temporary Sheriff's lack of security of tenure breach of Article 6).
Paton v Ritchie 2000 SCCR 384 (Police interview of suspect in absence of Solicitor held not to be breach of Article 6).
Burns Petitioner 2000 SCCR 151 (Petition procedure where Crown could effectively have accused remanded for 7 days without Judicial oversight of their reasons held to breach Article 5).
Prosecuted Callum Evans Murder Trial (High media interest as accused on tagging order at time of Murder).
Prosecuted Derek Nash torture trial.
Represented Robert McKee in challenge to primary legislation of the Scottish Parliament in terms of section 29 of the Scotland Act.
Instructed in a number of Polish Extradition cases where extradition challenged due to Polish prison conditions.
Ashton v HMA 2012 SCCR 150 and 2011 HCJAC 124.

Prior Experience

Solicitor in private practice
Procurator Fiscal Depute from 1990 - 1992