Ian Robertson, Lord Robertson
Encyclopedia
Ian MacDonald Robertson was a High Court of Justiciary
judge
who contributed greatly to Scottish law.
when his father was already 66. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School
between 1926 and 1931 and had an outstanding school career, being appointed a Senior Prefect in his final year. He was also a notable sportsman, captaining the 1st XV rugby union
side, and playing for the 1st XI cricket
team. He then attended Balliol College, Oxford
, following in the footsteps of his older brother Sir James Robertson.
Returning to Scotland he graduated LLB at Edinburgh University in 1937 and served his apprenticeship as a Writer to the Signet with Shepherd and Wedderburn, but soon found his preferred field as an advocate. He regarded his life as having been transformed by meeting Anna Glen, daughter of Judge James Fulton Glen, of Tampa
, Florida
, United States
, at her 21st birthday party at the Gleneagles Hotel
. They had one son and two daughters, and shared 63 years of married life before Anna died in 2002.
When World War II
broke out Robertson joined the 8th Battalion The Royal Scots
, serving first as a weapons instructor. He was later commissioned and as captain and intelligence officer for the 44th Lowland Brigade (15th Scottish Division), he distinguished himself in Normandy and NW Europe and the campaign from D-Day to the end of the war, being mentioned in dispatches. He wrote an account of the action, "From Normandy to the Baltic", printed in Germany before he returned to Britain.
of Ayr and Bute (1961–1966) and then of Perth and Angus (1966). In 1966 he was appointed to the High Court bench.
His friend James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern said: "He was a meticulous, courteous and diligent judge and a great believer in the reputation of Scots Law. He was sensitive to any interference by the Executive
in the work of the Courts."
, a Glasgow nurse accused of the murder of one of her patients and the assault of four others. In summing up he neglected to mention her denial of a police claim that she had admitted to mercy killing during an interview. McTavish was convicted but Robertson's omission was used as the basis for an appeal the following year and McTavish's sentence was overturned.
Lord Robertson also conducted himself poorly in the matter of the Rachel Ross Ayr murder miscarriage where Paddy Meehan subsequently received a Royal Pardon after serving 7 years after being falsely convicted. Robertson later conspired with other members of Muirfield and the legal profession to deny the noted write and broadcaster Sir Ludovic Kennedy membership. Kennedy had exposed publicly the failings of Lord's Robertson, Grant and Hunter, the Labour Lord Advocate Ronald King Murray and two Secretary's of State for Scotland in this matter.
1954-2005 and was chairman 1970-1996.
He played golf into his eighties, particularly at Muirfield where he was captain from 1970 to 1972. He died on July 21, 2005 at age 92.
High Court of Justiciary
The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
who contributed greatly to Scottish law.
Early life
Robertson was the youngest of six children, born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
when his father was already 66. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the village of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has about 480 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 8 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; day pupils make up 35% of the school....
between 1926 and 1931 and had an outstanding school career, being appointed a Senior Prefect in his final year. He was also a notable sportsman, captaining the 1st XV rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
side, and playing for the 1st XI cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team. He then attended Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, following in the footsteps of his older brother Sir James Robertson.
Returning to Scotland he graduated LLB at Edinburgh University in 1937 and served his apprenticeship as a Writer to the Signet with Shepherd and Wedderburn, but soon found his preferred field as an advocate. He regarded his life as having been transformed by meeting Anna Glen, daughter of Judge James Fulton Glen, of Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, at her 21st birthday party at the Gleneagles Hotel
Gleneagles Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel is a luxury hotel near Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.- History :The hotel was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company and opened in 1924, originally with its own railway station...
. They had one son and two daughters, and shared 63 years of married life before Anna died in 2002.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out Robertson joined the 8th Battalion The Royal Scots
The Royal Scots
The Royal Scots , once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of Scotland...
, serving first as a weapons instructor. He was later commissioned and as captain and intelligence officer for the 44th Lowland Brigade (15th Scottish Division), he distinguished himself in Normandy and NW Europe and the campaign from D-Day to the end of the war, being mentioned in dispatches. He wrote an account of the action, "From Normandy to the Baltic", printed in Germany before he returned to Britain.
Career
His career as an advocate was soon established. He took silk in 1954, later serving as Sheriff PrincipalSheriff Principal
The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
of Ayr and Bute (1961–1966) and then of Perth and Angus (1966). In 1966 he was appointed to the High Court bench.
His friend James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern said: "He was a meticulous, courteous and diligent judge and a great believer in the reputation of Scots Law. He was sensitive to any interference by the Executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
in the work of the Courts."
Notable cases
Robertson presided over the 1974 case of Jessie McTavishJessie McTavish
Jessie McTavish is a Scottish former nurse who was convicted in 1974 of murdering a patient with insulin. The conviction was overturned on appeal in 1976. McTavish was dubbed the "Angel of Death" by the press.-Prosecution:...
, a Glasgow nurse accused of the murder of one of her patients and the assault of four others. In summing up he neglected to mention her denial of a police claim that she had admitted to mercy killing during an interview. McTavish was convicted but Robertson's omission was used as the basis for an appeal the following year and McTavish's sentence was overturned.
Lord Robertson also conducted himself poorly in the matter of the Rachel Ross Ayr murder miscarriage where Paddy Meehan subsequently received a Royal Pardon after serving 7 years after being falsely convicted. Robertson later conspired with other members of Muirfield and the legal profession to deny the noted write and broadcaster Sir Ludovic Kennedy membership. Kennedy had exposed publicly the failings of Lord's Robertson, Grant and Hunter, the Labour Lord Advocate Ronald King Murray and two Secretary's of State for Scotland in this matter.
Further positions
Robertson was also chairman of the Scottish Joint Council for Teachers’ Salaries (1965–1981); an assessor on Edinburgh University Court (1967–1981); chairman of the Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy (1967–1985); chairman of the Centre of Tropical Veterinary Medicine; and chairman of the Scottish Valuation Advisory Council (1977–1986). The first Scottish judge to be a member of the International Union of Judges, he served for 13 years (1974–1987). He was on the board of governors of Merchiston Castle SchoolMerchiston Castle School
Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the village of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has about 480 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 8 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; day pupils make up 35% of the school....
1954-2005 and was chairman 1970-1996.
He played golf into his eighties, particularly at Muirfield where he was captain from 1970 to 1972. He died on July 21, 2005 at age 92.