Three new sheriff appointments
30 Mar 07
Norman Ritchie, Seán Murphy and Douglas Kinloch take up new roles
Three new sheriffs have been appointed as floating sheriffs.
Norman Ritchie QC, 49, was admitted as a solicitor in 1980 and to the Faculty of Advocates in 1990. He took silk in 2003 and was appointed a part-time sheriff in July 2005.
Seán Murphy QC, 47, joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) as an advocate depute in 1998 and worked for three years as standing junior counsel to the Scottish Executive. He returned to COPFS as senior advocate depute in 2003.
Advocate Douglas Kinloch, 49, has worked as a stipendiary magistrate, an immigration judge and a temporary sheriff. He is also the part-time chairman of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal.
The three have commissions allowing them to serve where required throughout Scotland's 49 sheriff courts, but they will work in the areas where help is most needed.
In addition, Sheriff Fiona Reith (Glasgow) has transferred to Edinburgh to fill the vacancy arising from the retiral of Sheriff Ian Simpson, and Sheriff Michael O'Grady (Glasgow) will transfer to Edinburgh to fill the vacancy arising from the retiral of Sheriff Isobel Poole.
Sheriffs Martin Jones and Margaret Liddell, who currently hold posts as floating sheriffs, will become resident sheriffs at Glasgow in place of Sheriffs Reith and O'Grady. Sheriff Norman Ritchie and Sheriff Seán Murphy will fill the vacancies for floating sheriffs at Glasgow in succession to Sheriffs Jones and Liddell.
Sheriff Peter Gillam will transfer from a resident post at Linlithgow to fill the vacancy at Haddington arising from the retiral of Sheriff George Presslie. Sheriff Martin Edington, currently a floating sheriff in Lothian and Borders, will fill Sheriff Gillam's resident post at Linlithgow. Sheriff Douglas Kinloch will replace Sheriff Edington as a floating sheriff in Lothian and Borders.
At Kilmarnock, Sheriff Alastair Watson, currently a floating sheriff in North Strathclyde, will become a resident sheriff following the retiral of Sheriff Colin McKay. Sheriff Watson's current post will be filled by Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane, who already holds a commission as a floating sheriff for all of Scotland.
In Hamilton, Sheriff Shiona Waldron has moved to fill the resident vacancy which arose from the retiral earlier this year of Sheriff William Gibson.