Lord President's absence leads to delays
18 May 06
Concerns raised about continued sick leave of Lord Hamilton
The Lord President's continued absence from work has led to serious delays in High Court cases, according to a report in today's Herald.
Lord Hamilton, who took office as Lord President in December, has been off work since March, believed to be suffering from stress. The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Gill, is acting as presiding judge in his absence, but the cases Lord Hamilton is directly involved in will have to wait until his return, according to a spokesperson for the judiciary.
The three cases the Lord President is presiding over and which await judgment include a test case on prisoner conditions by Andrew Somerville, who claims that his solitary confinement in Glenochil prison breached his human rights.
Lord Hamilton's absence is attibuted to the large volume of work the Lord President already has, taken with proposals for reform of the courts system, which would mean he would be in charge of not only the High Court and Court of Session, but the district and sheriff courts as well. These proposals are now causing concern in the legal profession.