THE new Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland have been announced.
The First Minister has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament seeking agreement to recommend Ruth Charteris KC to succeed Dorothy Bain KC as Lord Advocate, who informed John Swinney last month that she intended to leave office.
It came after controversy over the dual role of the Lord Advocate, who is both Scotland’s chief prosecutor and the Scottish Government’s principal legal adviser as a Cabinet minister.
Bain was criticised by opposition MSPs earlier this year after it emerged she informed Mr Swinney of the charges against former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell around 10 months before they were made public.
Charteris, meanwhile, has served as the Solicitor General since 2021, which is the deputy to the Lord Advocate.
Brian Gill KC, known as BJ Gill, is being nominated as the new Solicitor General.
The appointments of the new Scottish law officers will now be subject to the Scottish Parliament and are expected to pass, upon which it will then proceed to King Charles to formally make the appointments.
“I am extremely pleased to be seeking parliament’s agreement to recommend Ruth Charteris KC and BJ Gill KC as Scotland’s law officers," Swinney said.
“Ruth Charteris brings a wealth of experience, having demonstrated outstanding legal expertise and leadership throughout her career including in her service as Solicitor General over the past five years. In that capacity she has earned widespread respect across the legal profession and beyond, making her exceptionally well qualified to serve as Scotland’s Lord Advocate."
He added: “BJ Gill KC is a candidate of excellent calibre. Having previously been Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland and the Home Office, he also has extensive experience and expertise in public law, including in significant constitutional cases before the United Kingdom Supreme Court.”
Charteris, meanwhile, said: “I thank the First Minister for nominating me to the office of Lord Advocate. I recognise the importance and the responsibility of this role and if I am appointed, it will be a great privilege to serve the people of Scotland.”
Gill added: “I am delighted and honoured to be recommended for this appointment and I look forward to working with and supporting Ruth Charteris, if approved by Parliament.”
The First Minister also thanked Bain for her service and Charteris for serving as Solicitor General for the last five years.
