Scotland’s ex-Sir Humphrey for Judicial Appointments Board
On 6th October 2008 it was announced that Sir Muir Russell, Principal of Glasgow University and former Permanent Secretary in the Scottish Executive had been appointed as the chairman of the Judicial Appointments Board. The appointment is for 3 years.
Announcing the appointment Justice Scretary Kenny MacAskill said:
“I am delighted to announce Sir Muir's appointment today. Under the guiding hand of its first chairman Sir Neil McIntosh, the Judicial Appointments Board has firmly established itself as part of Scotland's judicial system. In Sir Muir the independent panel that recommended this appointment have identified someone of experience and skill who is very well placed to take the Board forward, and in due course onto a statutory footing.”
When Chapter 3 of the recently passed Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill comes into force, the board will become statutory and have a formal role in judicial appointments.