Gerry Maher
Encyclopedia
Gerard 'Gerry' Maher QC
is a Scottish lawyer and academic. He was a Law Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission
from 2000–2008, and is currently Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Edinburgh
. He was Professor of Criminal Law
at Strathclyde Law School
from 1992–2000.
Maher studied Law
at the University of Glasgow
and obtained a B.Litt. at the University of Oxford
in 1976. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1987 and was a practising Advocate from 1989 to 1991. He was appointed as a full-time Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission in February 2000, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 2003.
Professor Maher is the author of textbooks on international private law and (with Sheriff Douglas Cusine) is the author of a textbook on the law of diligence (the means by which civil law judgments are enforced against assets in Scotland). During his time at the Scottish Law Commission Professor Maher had responsibility for finalising the Commission work on the reform of the law of diligence - largely implemented by the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Act 2007.
Professor Maher has recently been in charge of the Scottish Law Commission's proposed reform of rape laws; his term of office at the Commission ended on 31 August 2008.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
is a Scottish lawyer and academic. He was a Law Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission
Scottish Law Commission
The Scottish Law Commission is Scottish advisory public body established by Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1965 to keep the law of Scotland under review and recommend necessary reforms to improve, simplify and update Scots law. It plays a leading role in developing the law for the people of...
from 2000–2008, and is currently Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He was Professor of Criminal Law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
at Strathclyde Law School
Strathclyde Law School
Strathclyde Law School was established in 1964 and operates within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland....
from 1992–2000.
Maher studied Law
University of Glasgow School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Glasgow provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Law, and awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws , Master of Laws , Master of Science , Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy , the degree of Doctor of Laws...
at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and obtained a B.Litt. at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1976. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1987 and was a practising Advocate from 1989 to 1991. He was appointed as a full-time Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission in February 2000, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 2003.
Professor Maher is the author of textbooks on international private law and (with Sheriff Douglas Cusine) is the author of a textbook on the law of diligence (the means by which civil law judgments are enforced against assets in Scotland). During his time at the Scottish Law Commission Professor Maher had responsibility for finalising the Commission work on the reform of the law of diligence - largely implemented by the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Act 2007.
Professor Maher has recently been in charge of the Scottish Law Commission's proposed reform of rape laws; his term of office at the Commission ended on 31 August 2008.