§ 43. Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis and on what standards appointments are made to the shrieval bench in Scotland.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAppointments to the shrieval bench are made by Her Majesty on my recommendation. The qualifications for appointment to these offices—that is, of sheriff principal or sheriff—are laid down in the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971, namely, that the person must be, and have been for at least 10 years, legally qualified. For this purpose a person is legally qualified if he is an advocate or a solicitor.