Following an open and competitive recruitment exercise, the Lord President has appointed Ms Jacqueline Harris and Mr Paul Reid as solicitor members of the Council.

Paul Reid is a Solicitor Advocate with extended rights of audience in the High Court of Justiciary, the Court of Session and the Supreme Court.

Jacqueline Harris is a partner in the Litigation and Compliance team of the commercial law firm Pinsent Masons.  Jacqueline has over 25 years experience of litigation practice acting predominantly for commercial clients.  She has represented clients in litigation before the Sheriff Court, Court of Session and Supreme Court.

Solicitor members are appointed for a period of 3 years.

The Lord President, the Right Honourable Lord Gill, said:

“I am very pleased to welcome Jacqueline and Paul to the Scottish Civil Justice Council.  The knowledge and experience that they will bring will be of great benefit to the Council in the forthcoming programme of civil courts reform.”

Background

The Scottish Civil Justice Council was established on 28 May 2013 under The Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013.  It is responsible for preparing draft rules of procedure for the civil courts and advising the Lord President on the development of the civil justice system in Scotland.

The creation of a single rules council for Scotland was one of the recommendations of Lord Gill’s Scottish Civil Courts Review. The Council has particular responsibility for implementing the procedural changes to effect the recently passed Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill, founded on the review recommendations.

The Scottish Civil Justice Council website is here.

For further information please contact Ondine Tennant at scjc@scotcourts.gov.uk / 0131 240 6769.