John Cameron, Lord Abernethy
Encyclopedia
John Alastair Cameron, Lord Abernethy is a Scottish
lawyer, and a former Senator of the College of Justice
, a judge of the country's Supreme Courts
, serving from 1992 to 2007, when he retired. He was a member of the English Bar
before moving to the Scottish Faculty of Advocates
, where he served as Vice-Dean from 1983-1992.
, St Mary's School, Melrose
, and Trinity College, Glenalmond
. He undertook National Service as a Second Lieutenant
with the Royal Army Service Corps
from 1956 to 1958, and then studied at Pembroke College, Oxford
.
in 1963, but moved to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1966. He served as an Advocate Depute from 1972 to 1975, Standing Junior Counsel to the Department of Energy from 1976 to 1979 and Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Development Department from 1978 to 1979. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1979, and the same year became Director of Faculty Services Limited, the services branch of the Faculty of Advocates
, and was its Chairman from 1983 to 1989. He was Legal Chairman of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals from 1979 to 1992, serving in addition as President of the Tribunal from 1985. He was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in 1983, serving until his appointment to the Bench.
In 1992, he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
, a judge of the Court of Session
and High Court of Justiciary
, Scotland's Supreme Courts
, with the judicial title, Lord Abernethy, and promoted to the Inner House
of the Court of Session in 2005, being appointed to the Privy Council. He was one of the four judges in the original Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial
.
He was Vice-Chairman of the Judges' Forum of the International Bar Association
from 1993 to 1994, and Chairman from 1994 to 1998. He then became a member of the Council of the IBA's Section on Legal Practice from 1998 to 2002, and of the Council of its Human Rights Institute from 1998 to 2000 and 2002 to 2005. He was the first President of the Scottish Medico-Legal Society, serving from 1996-2000. He is also the author of Medical Negligence: An Introduction (ISBN 978-0902023116).
Lord Abernethy resigned as a judge in 2007, being succeeded in the Inner House
by Lord Wheatley
, whose seat in the Outer House
was filled by the appointment of Colin Campbell, Lord Malcolm
, former Dean of the Faculty of Advocates
.
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
lawyer, and a former Senator of the College of Justice
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
, a judge of the country's Supreme Courts
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, serving from 1992 to 2007, when he retired. He was a member of the English Bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
before moving to the Scottish 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...
, where he served as Vice-Dean from 1983-1992.
Early life
Cameron was educated at the Clergy School, KhartoumKhartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, St Mary's School, Melrose
Melrose, Scotland
Melrose is a small town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. It is in the Eildon committee area.-Etymology:...
, and Trinity College, Glenalmond
Glenalmond College
Glenalmond College is a co-educational independent boarding school in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, for children aged between 12 and 18 years. It is situated on the River Almond near the village of Methven, about west of the city of Perth. The school's motto is Floreat Glenalmond...
. He undertook National Service as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
with the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
from 1956 to 1958, and then studied at Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
.
Legal career
Cameron was called to the Bar at the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1963, but moved 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 1966. He served as an Advocate Depute from 1972 to 1975, Standing Junior Counsel to the Department of Energy from 1976 to 1979 and Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Development Department from 1978 to 1979. He 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 1979, and the same year became Director of Faculty Services Limited, the services branch of 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...
, and was its Chairman from 1983 to 1989. He was Legal Chairman of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals from 1979 to 1992, serving in addition as President of the Tribunal from 1985. He was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in 1983, serving until his appointment to the Bench.
In 1992, he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
, a judge of the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
and High Court of Justiciary
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...
, Scotland's Supreme Courts
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, with the judicial title, Lord Abernethy, and promoted to the Inner House
Inner House
The Inner House is the senior part of the Court of Session, the supreme civil court in Scotland; the Outer House forms the junior part of the Court of Session. It is a court of appeal and a court of first instance...
of the Court of Session in 2005, being appointed to the Privy Council. He was one of the four judges in the original Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial
Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial
The Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial began on 3 May 2000, 11 years, 4 months and 13 days after the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 on 21 December 1988...
.
He was Vice-Chairman of the Judges' Forum of the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
from 1993 to 1994, and Chairman from 1994 to 1998. He then became a member of the Council of the IBA's Section on Legal Practice from 1998 to 2002, and of the Council of its Human Rights Institute from 1998 to 2000 and 2002 to 2005. He was the first President of the Scottish Medico-Legal Society, serving from 1996-2000. He is also the author of Medical Negligence: An Introduction (ISBN 978-0902023116).
Lord Abernethy resigned as a judge in 2007, being succeeded in the Inner House
Inner House
The Inner House is the senior part of the Court of Session, the supreme civil court in Scotland; the Outer House forms the junior part of the Court of Session. It is a court of appeal and a court of first instance...
by Lord Wheatley
John Wheatley, Lord Wheatley
John Francis Wheatley, Lord Wheatley is a Scottish lawyer and Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland, sitting in the High Court of Justiciary and the Inner House of the Court of Session. He is an authority on road traffic law...
, whose seat in the Outer House
Outer House
The Outer House is one of the two parts of the Scottish Court of Session, which is the supreme civil court in Scotland. It is a court of first instance, although some statutory appeals are remitted to it by the other more senior part, the Inner House...
was filled by the appointment of Colin Campbell, Lord Malcolm
Colin Campbell, Lord Malcolm
Colin Malcolm Campbell, Lord Malcolm is a Scottish lawyer, and a Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the country's Supreme Courts.-Early life:...
, former Dean of 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...
.
Personal life
Cameron married Elspeth Miller in 1968. They have three sons. His interests include travel, sport, nature conservation and Africana. He is an Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College, OxfordPembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
.