New sheriffs principal appointed

New faces announced for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, and South Strathclyde Dumfries and Galloway

News, 23 September 2005

Sheriffs James Taylor and Brian Lockhart have been appointed respectively as Sheriffs Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, and of South Strathclyde Dumfries and Galloway.

The senior sheriffs have been appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister.

Sheriff James A Taylor, 54, was admitted as a solicitor in 1977 and as a solicitor advocate in 1993. He was appointed a sheriff of Lothian and Borders in 1998 and transferred to Glasgow in 1999, where he was designated commercial sheriff. He succeeds Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen, who was recently appointed Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders.

Sheriff Brian A Lockhart, 62, was admitted as solicitor in 1964 and became a partner in Robertson Chalmers & Auld in 1967. He was appointed temporary sheriff in 1977, and floating sheriff of North Strathclyde based at Paisley in 1979. In 1981 he became a resident sheriff at Glasgow where he has held office to date.

He is currently President of the Sheriffs' Association having also served as secretary and Vice President. He has been served on the Parole Board for Scotland and was a member of the McInnes Review of Summary Criminal Justice. He succeeds Sheriff Principal John McInnes, who is retiring.