(137)  Judicial appointments

Nearly two months after the resignation of Lord Rodger of Earlsferry as Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General to take up appointment as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary following the retirement of Lord Clyde, it was announced on 14 November 2001 that the next Lord President would be Lord Cullen, previously Lord  Justice Clerk; that latter post would be taken up by Lord Gill, the Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission.  There was speculation that the unprecedented delay in making the appointment of a new Lord President was due to political differences within the Scottish Executive about the appointment.