Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill has announced the appointment of Lord Pentland (Paul Cullen) as the new Chair to the Scottish Law Commission.
The appointment will be for five years and runs from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2018. Lord Pentland succeeds Lady Clark of Calton in the post.
Mr MacAskill said: “I am delighted that Lord Pentland has accepted the offer of appointment as Chair to the Scottish Law Commission. The work of the Scottish Law Commission, and its commitment to law reform in Scotland, is highly valued by the Scottish Government. I am sure that Lord Pentland’s skills and experience will be an asset to the work of the Commission.”
Lord Pentland was appointed as a Senator of the College of Justice in November 2008. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1982 and became a QC in 1995. He served as an Advocate Depute (Crown Counsel prosecuting in the High Court) between 1991 and 1994. In 1995 he was appointed Solicitor-General for Scotland and held this office until the General Election in 1997. He then returned to practice at the Bar, specialising in commercial and public law. Earlier in his career Lord Pentland was Standing Junior Counsel to the Department of the Environment in Scotland. He also held appointments as a Chairman of the Police Appeals Tribunal and as a Chairman of the Appeal Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Between April 2001 and May 2002 he was Chairman of the Public Inquiry into limestone mining subsidence in the Gilmerton area of Edinburgh. In 2010 Lord Pentland was appointed as a member of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber). He is also an Intellectual Property Judge.
This appointment is made on a part-time basis, with 60 per cent of Lord Pentland’s time being spent on Commission business, and the remainder of his time devoted to his judicial functions. Lord Pentland retains his judicial salary and receives no additional payment for this work.
The Scottish Law Commission, along with its counterpart for England and Wales, was set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965. It exists to keep the law of Scotland under review with a view to its modernisation, simplification and systematic reform. The Commission receives and considers proposals for changes to the law, examines particular branches of the law, and makes recommendations for reform.
This Ministerial appointment was made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. Lord Pentland does not hold any other Public Appointments.
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 within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Lord Pentland has undertaken no political activities over the last five years.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
