§ Mr. Wheatleyasked the Lord Advocate how far persons charged with criminal offences in Scottish courts, who are unable to defray the expenses of their defence, are provided with legal representation gratuitously by the legal profession; and to what extent there is evidence that the defence of persons so charged in Scotland is in any way subsidised by newspapers or other similar sources.
§ The Lord AdvocateIn Scotland, it has always been the practice for members of the legal profession, as part of their professional duty, to act gratuitously for any person charged with a criminal offence in the High Court or in any of the Sheriff courts in Scotland, if such person is unable to defray the expenses of his defence. Indeed, in such cases members of the Scots Bar and solicitors are out of pocket as a result of conducting such defences.
There is no evidence whatever known to me that there is any subsidising by newspapers or by any other similar sources of the defence of persons charged in Scotland with a crime.