Ruth Charteris KC has been named as the Scottish Government’s choice to become the new Lord Advocate, after Dorothy Bain KC stepped down from the role.
BJ Gill KC has been nominated to be Solicitor General– with both appointments still having to be formally approved by both the Scottish Parliament and the King.
First Minister John Swinney said he was “extremely pleased” to put the lawyers forward for the two law officer positions.
Ms Charteris had served as Solicitor General under Ms Bain. Before that she held a variety of posts including as Standing Junior to the Scottish Government and as a full time Advocate Depute at the Crown Office.
Mr Swinney said she would bring “a wealth of experience” to the position of Lord Advocate.
He added she had “demonstrated outstanding legal expertise and leadership throughout her career, including in her service as Solicitor General over the past five years”.
Ms Charteris thanked the First Minister for the nomination, adding: “I recognise the importance and the responsibility of this role, and if I am appointed, it will be a great privilege to serve the people of Scotland.”
Meanwhile Mr Swinney said Mr Gill was a “candidate of excellent calibre” for the post of Solicitor General.
He previously worked for both the Advocate General for Scotland and the Home Office.
The First Minister said that Mr Gill has “extensive experience and expertise in public law, including in significant constitutional cases before the United Kingdom Supreme Court”.
Mr Gill said he was “delighted and honoured to be recommended for this appointment”.
He added that he was looking forward “to working with and supporting Ruth Charteris, if approved by Parliament”.
Mr Swinney also thanked Ms Bain – who was the second female Lord Advocate in Scotland – for her five years in the job.
The First Minister praised her “dedicated service to the Government, to justice and to Scotland”.
Ms Bain was appointed Lord Advocate in June 2021 after she was nominated for the post by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Her resignation came after controversy over the dual role of the Lord Advocate who is both Scotland’s chief prosecutor and the Scottish Government’s principal legal adviser as a Cabinet minister.
Ms Bain was criticised by opposition MSPs earlier this year after it emerged she informed Mr Swinney of the charges against former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell around 10 months before they were made public.
Mr Swinney then said it was “entirely appropriate” for Scotland’s top law officer to brief him on “sensitive” court cases.
The Scottish Government said at the time that it considers the current position is appropriate, and that it would be for the next administration formed after the Holyrood election to consider any changes.
Article published in The Herald, Tuesday, June 16th.