(75)  Judicial appointments

Twelve new sheriffs were appointed on a permanent basis on 10 December 1999. They included Rajni Swanney, the first judicial appointment from an ethnic minority group in Scotland as well as a woman. On 17 December 1999 Ann Paton QC was appointed to the Court of Session/High Court of Justiciary bench, only the second female appointment in those courts. Also appointed at the same time was JohnWheatley QC, who had previously held a temporary appointment. He is the son of the former Lord Justice Clerk Wheatley.