News In Focus
12 February 2007
Former Dean to become a judge
Colin Campbell QC has been appointed as a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, filling a vacancy that arose with the retiral of Lord Abernethy in January.
Mr Campbell, who was Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 2001-2004, was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990. He came to the bar in 1977 after graduating with first class honours from Dundee University, and was a full time lecturer in Scots law for two years before taking up practice. As Standing Junior Counsel to the then Scottish Development Department from 1984-90, he specialised latterly in planning matters. From 2002 to 2005, he was a member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.
Mr Campbell fills the vacancy on the bench created by the retiral of Lord Abernethy in January. Lord Wheatley has been promoted to Lord Abernethy's former position in the Inner House and Mr Campbell will fill the resulting Outer House vacancy.
As Mr Campbell previously served on the Judicial Appointments Board an independent assessor, Anja Amsel, was appointed to ensure that the process was, and seen to be, fair to all applicants, and fulfilled all the requirements of openness and transparency, equality, merit and compliance with codes of good practice.