§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sewel on 9 February (WA 134), whether there is any statutory or other binding rule preventing Scottish judges from being removed from office without the approval of Parliament. [HL613]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)Scottish judges are appointed by Her Majesty The Queen and there are no statutory powers to remove them from office. Although there is no recorded incidence of any Government attempting removal of a Scottish judge, it is thought that such a judge could be removed by Her Majesty The Queen on an address passed by both Houses of Parliament. The Scotland Bill, which will come before this House in due course, includes a provision on the future procedure for removal of a Scottish judge from office.