Listen
Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
22/02/2008
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today announced that on the recommendation of the First Minister, Her Majesty the Queen has approved the extension of appointment, and the re-appointment, of two members to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Sir Gerald Gordon CBE QC - a Sheriff from 1976 to 1999 and a temporary High Court Judge until June 2004. He is the editor of the Scottish Criminal Case Reports and Editor of Renton and Brown's Criminal Procedure. He was Professor of Scots law at Edinburgh University from 1972-1976 and Head of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology there from 1965-1972. He practised as an advocate from 1953-1959 and was Procurator Fiscal Depute from 1960-1965. Sir Gerald has been a Member of the SCCRC since its inception in April 1999.
Graham Clark Bell QC - since he was called to the Bar, Graham Bell QC has been instructed regularly in the Criminal Appeal Court. As both Junior and Senior Counsel he has conducted many important appeals. From 1998-2000 he was an Advocate Depute and represented the Crown in the Appeal Court. From 2000 onwards he has acted ad hoc for the Crown.
The re-appointed Members hold no other Ministerial appointments.
The extension of appointment of Sir Gerald Gordon will be for one year and the re-appointment of Mr Bell will be for four years, and will run from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 and February 1, 2008 to January 31, 2012 respectively.
These posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £243 for a time commitment of three to four days per month.
The SCCRC commenced its operation in April 1999. It has powers to refer cases to the High Court where it believes that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred and where it considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so.
Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. The re-appointed Members have not been involved in any political activity in the last five years.