New QC appointment procedure
20 Dec 04
Sir Roy Cameron to provide independent report to Ministers
<p>The First Minister, Jack McConnell has appointed Sir Roy Cameron, the former
Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway and of Lothian and Borders, to act as an independent observer to the process of appointing Queen's Counsel in Scotland.</p><p>The Lord President of the Court of Sesssion proposed the appointment of an independent person to observe the appointment procedure, and report to the First Minister on whether this process was conducted fairly and objectively. The First Minister has also accepted the Lord President's recommendation that a selection process be run to identify new candidates for appointment to Queen's Counsel. </p><p>Sir Roy will make a written report to Ministers with his conclusions on the procedure before the First Minister makes his final decisions on the Lord President's recommendations.</p><p>Mr McConnell said: "We are committed in Scotland to developing a culture of openness and accountability within our legal appointments process. We were, for example,
the first part of the UK to have an independent Judicial Appointments
Board.</p><p>"Today I can announce that we will build further on that strong foundation by adding independent scrutiny to the appointment of individuals to Queen's
Counsel. Sir Roy Cameron is a well-respected figure in Scottish public life, and his strong track record of independence in his professional life will serve us well."<p>