Lord President of the Court of Session
Encyclopedia
The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary
in Scotland
, and presiding judge
(and Senator) of the College of Justice
and Court of Session
, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the High Court of Justiciary
, the offices having been combined in 1836. The Lord President has authority over any court established under Scots law
except for the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
.
The office of Lord Justice General is derived from the justiciar
s who were appointed from the twelfth century (or even earlier). From around 1567 it was held heritably by the Earl of Argyll until the heritability was resigned to the Crown
in 1607. Scotstarvet lists it as a Great Officer of State
in his famous treatise of 1754.
The current Lord President, Lord Hamilton, was sworn in on 2 December 2005.
His deputy is the Lord Justice Clerk
.
In Scotland the Official Oath is taken before the Lord President of the Court of Session. In England
that role is performed by the Clerk of the Privy Council
.
The office was combined with that of Lord President on the death of the Duke of Montrose in 1836.
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
in Scotland
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...
, and presiding 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...
(and Senator) of the College of Justice
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...
and 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....
, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the 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...
, the offices having been combined in 1836. The Lord President has authority over any court established under Scots law
Scots law
Scots law is the legal system of Scotland. It is considered a hybrid or mixed legal system as it traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. With English law and Northern Irish law it forms the legal system of the United Kingdom; it shares with the two other systems some...
except for the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
.
The office of Lord Justice General is derived from the justiciar
Justiciar
In medieval England and Ireland the Chief Justiciar was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister as the monarch's chief minister. Similar positions existed on the Continent, particularly in Norman Italy. The term is the English form of the medieval Latin justiciarius or justitiarius In...
s who were appointed from the twelfth century (or even earlier). From around 1567 it was held heritably by the Earl of Argyll until the heritability was resigned to the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
in 1607. Scotstarvet lists it as a Great Officer of State
Great Officer of State
In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional Crown ministers, who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions. Separate Great Officers exist for England and Scotland, and formerly for Ireland...
in his famous treatise of 1754.
The current Lord President, Lord Hamilton, was sworn in on 2 December 2005.
His deputy is the Lord Justice Clerk
Lord Justice Clerk
The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
.
In Scotland the Official Oath is taken before the Lord President of the Court of Session. In England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that role is performed by the Clerk of the Privy Council
Clerk of the Privy Council (United Kingdom)
The Clerk of the Privy Council is a civil servant in the government of the United Kingdom. He or she is the most senior civil servant in the Privy Council Office....
.
Justiciars
(called Lord Chief Justices by Scot of Scotstarvet).- Argadus, Captain of ArgyllArgyllArgyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, in the reign of Ethodius - Comes Dunetus; in the reign of King William the Lion (who d. 1214).
- Donnchad II, Earl of FifeDonnchad II, Earl of FifeMormaer Donnchad II , anglicized as Duncan II or Dunecan II, succeeded his father Donnchad I as a child. As a child of the previous Mormaer, he was entitled to succeed his father through primogeniture, but not to lead his kin-group, Clann MacDuib. That probably fell to his cousin, Aed mac Gille...
- William ComynWilliam Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of BuchanWilliam Comyn was one of four sons of Richard Comyn, Justiciar of Lothian and Hextilda of Tynedale. He was born in Scotland, in Altyre, Moray in 1163 and died in Buchan in 1233 where he is buried in Deer Abbey...
- Richard ComynRichard ComynRichard Comyn was a Scottish noble, the nephew of William Comyn.Richard was probably born between 1115 and 1123. In 1144, William Comyn gave him Northallerton Castle, which he had built a few years earlier. Shortly after, he received the castle and honour of Richmond as part of his uncle's...
- David, Earl of HuntingdonDavid of Scotland, 8th Earl of HuntingdonDavid of Scotland was a Scottish prince and Earl of Huntingdon. He was a claimant to the Scottish throne.-Life:He was the youngest surviving son of Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Ada de Warenne, a daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, and Elizabeth of Vermandois. His...
(d. 1219) - Walter Clifford, Justiciary of the Lothians
- 1216: Allan, Justiciary to King Alexander IIAlexander II of ScotlandAlexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
- 1224: William Cumin, Earl of BuchanWilliam Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of BuchanWilliam Comyn was one of four sons of Richard Comyn, Justiciar of Lothian and Hextilda of Tynedale. He was born in Scotland, in Altyre, Moray in 1163 and died in Buchan in 1233 where he is buried in Deer Abbey...
(reign of Alexander IIIAlexander III of ScotlandAlexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
) - Walter (d. 1241), son of Allan High Steward of Scotland
- 1239: William, Earl of Ross, "Lord Chief Justice of Scotland"
- 1243: David de Lindsay, Justiciary of the Lothians
- AlexanderAlexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of ScotlandAlexander Stewart was 4th hereditary High Steward of Scotland from his father's death in 1246.A son of Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland by his wife Bethóc, daughter of Gille Críst, Earl of Angus, Alexander is said to have accompanied Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade...
(d.1283), High Steward of ScotlandHigh Steward of ScotlandThe title of High Steward or Great Steward was given in the 12th century to Walter Fitzalan, whose descendants became the House of Stewart. In 1371, the last High Steward inherited the throne, and thereafter the title of High Steward of Scotland has been held as a subsidiary title to that of Duke...
to King Alexander II - Hugo de Barclay, Justiciary of the Lothians
- 1253: Alexander Cumin, Earl of BuchanAlexander Comyn, Earl of BuchanAlexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland. He was the son of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, and Marjory, Countess of Buchan, the heiress of the last native Scottish Mormaer of Buchan,...
- bef 1319: Sir Robert de Lawedre of The Bass (d. Sept 1337), Justiciary of the Lothians
- 1328: Sir Robert Lauder of Quarrelwood (d. between 1367–70), Justiciary North of the Forth
- 1366: Robert de Erskine, Justiciary South of the Forth for King David IIDavid II of ScotlandDavid II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
- bef 1372: Alan de Lawedre of The Bass, Whitslaid, & Haltoun, Justiciary South of the Forth, (he received a pension for holding this post in 1374).
- 1372: Sir William Douglas, 1st Earl of DouglasWilliam Douglas, 1st Earl of DouglasWilliam Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas was a Scottish magnate.-Early Life:William Douglas was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay, and nephew of "Sir James the Good", Robert the Bruce's trusted deputy...
(d. May 1384), Justiciary South of the Forth. - 1425: Sir Robert de Lawedre of EdringtonEdringtonEdrington is a medieval estate occupying the lower part of Mordington parish in Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, five miles west of Berwick-upon-Tweed. From probably the 14th century, if not earlier, a castle occupied the steep hill above the mill of the same name on the Whiteadder Water...
& The Bass (d.1451), "Justiciario Scotia" - 1437: James Douglas, Earl of Avondale and Lord BalvenyJames Douglas, 7th Earl of DouglasJames Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas, 1st Earl of Avondale , known as "the Gross", was a Scottish nobleman. He was the second son of Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas and Joan Moray of Bothwell and Drumsargard , d...
- 1446: Patrick de Ogilvy, Justiciary South of the Forth
- 1457: John, Lord Lindsay of the Byres, Justiciary South of the Forth
- William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney & CaithnessWilliam Sinclair, 1st Earl of CaithnessWilliam Sinclair , 1st Earl of Caithness , 3rd Earl of Orkney , Baron of Roslin was a Scottish nobleman and the builder of Rosslyn Chapel, in Midlothian....
(d.1480), Justiciary North of the Forth for King James IIJames II of ScotlandJames II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort... - 1477: John Haldane of Gleneagles, Justiciary North of the Forth
- Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes (d. after 1482), and Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle, Justiciaries South of the Forth
- Andrew, Earl of Crawfurd, and George Gordon, 2nd Earl of HuntlyGeorge Gordon, 2nd Earl of HuntlyGeorge Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly was Chancellor of Scotland from 1498–1501.Gordon fought on the King's side against the Douglases during The Douglas Rebellion and helped secure a defeat at the Battle of Brechin. The 2nd Earl completed the building work that his father begun in constructing Huntly...
, Justiciaries North of the Forth - 1488: Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle d.c1497), "Lord Chief Justice"
- 1489: John Lyon, 3rd Lord Glamis (d. 1 April 1497), and John Drummond, 1st Lord DrummondJohn Drummond, 1st Lord DrummondJohn Drummond, first Lord Drummond , was a Scottish statesman.Drummond, ninth successive knight of his family, was the eldest son of Sir Malcolm Drummond of Cargill and Stobhall, Perthshire, by his marriage with Mariota, eldest daughter of Sir David Murray of Tullibardine in the same county. He sat...
: "Justice-General" - 1492: Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle, and John Lyon, 3rd Lord Glamis
- 1494: John Drummond, 1st Lord DrummondJohn Drummond, 1st Lord DrummondJohn Drummond, first Lord Drummond , was a Scottish statesman.Drummond, ninth successive knight of his family, was the eldest son of Sir Malcolm Drummond of Cargill and Stobhall, Perthshire, by his marriage with Mariota, eldest daughter of Sir David Murray of Tullibardine in the same county. He sat...
(d. c1519) - 1504: Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray, and John Kennedy, 2nd Lord KennedyJohn Kennedy, 2nd Lord KennedyJohn Kennedy, PC, 2nd Lord Kennedy was a Scottish lord, the son of Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Lord Kennedy....
- 1514: Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 3rd Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox. In 1506/07 he married Lady Jean Gordon, the eldest daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly...
- 1526: Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
- 1537: Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 4th Earl of ArgyllGillespie Roy Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician.-Biography:He was the eldest son of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll and Jean Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly...
- 1567: Sir Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 6th Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was appointed to the Lord Chancellorship of Scotland.-Biography:...
, (d.1584) (heritably) - 1578: Sir Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 6th Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and politician. He was appointed to the Lord Chancellorship of Scotland.-Biography:...
, (re-appointment?) - 1589: Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 7th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll , also called "Gillesbuig Grumach", was a Scottish politician and military leader.-Biography:...
, (who exchanged the heritable office of Lord Chief Justice in 1607, for the heritable Lieutenancy of Argyll and Lorn, and most of The Isles). - 1628: William Graham, 7th Earl of Menteith, 1st Earl of Airth
- 1638: Sir William Elphinstone
- 1641: Sir Thomas Hope, younger of Kerse
- 1646: William Cunningham, 8th Earl of GlencairnWilliam Cunningham, 8th Earl of GlencairnWilliam Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn , was a Scottish nobleman, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and a cavalier. He was also the chief of Clan Cunningham....
- 1649: John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis
Lord Justice-General
(list might be incomplete)- 1661: John Murray, 2nd Earl of AthollJohn Murray, 1st Marquess of AthollJohn Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl, KT was a leading Scottish royalist and defender of the Stuarts during the English Civil War of the 1640s, until after the rise to power of William and Mary in 1689...
- 1675: Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of MorayAlexander Stuart, 5th Earl of MoraySir Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray KT , was a Scottish nobleman who remained loyal to Roman Catholic James VII of Scotland .-Biography:...
- 1676: Sir Archibald Primrose of CarringtonArchibald Primrose, Lord CarringtonSir Archibald Primrose, 1st Baronet, Lord Carrington was a notable Scottish lawyer, judge, and Cavalier.The son of James Primrose Sir Archibald Primrose, 1st Baronet, Lord Carrington (May 16, 1616 – November 27, 1679) was a notable Scottish lawyer, judge, and Cavalier.The son of James Primrose Sir...
- 1678: Sir George Mackenzie of TarbatGeorge Mackenzie, 1st Earl of CromartieGeorge Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS , known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman....
(later 1st Earl of Cromartie) - 1680: William Douglas, 3rd Earl of Queensberry
- 1682: James Drummond, 4th Earl of PerthJames Drummond, 4th Earl of PerthJames Drummond, 1st Duke of Perth KT PC , also 4th Earl of Perth and 7th Lord Drummond, was a Scottish statesman, and Jacobite.-Family:...
- 1684: George Livingston, 3rd Earl of LinlithgowGeorge Livingston, 3rd Earl of Linlithgow-Life:The eldest son of Alexander, second earl, by Lady Elizabeth Gordon, second daughter of George Gordon, first marquis of Huntly, was born in July 1616. He was appointed constable and keeper of the palace of Linlithgow on his father's resignation on 15 Dec 1642...
- 1689: Robert Ker, 4th Earl of Lothian
- 1704: George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of CromartieGeorge Mackenzie, 1st Earl of CromartieGeorge Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS , known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman....
- 1710: Archibald Campbell, Earl of IlayArchibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, 1st Earl of Ilay was a Scottish nobleman, politician, lawyer, businessman and soldier...
- 1761: John Hay, 4th Marquess of TweeddaleJohn Hay, 4th Marquess of TweeddaleJohn Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale PC was a Scottish nobleman.Tweeddale was an able and accomplished statesman, and possessed considerable knowledge of law. He was appointed an Extraordinary Lord of Session in 1721, the last person to hold this office. He was one of the Scottish representative...
- 1763: Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of QueensberryCharles Douglas, 3rd Duke of QueensberryCharles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of Dover, PC was a Scottish nobleman.The son of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, 1st Duke of Dover, and Mary Boyle, daughter of Charles Boyle, 3rd Viscount Dungarvan, was a Privy Counsellor and Vice Admiral of Scotland.He took up the cause...
- 1778: David Murray, 7th Viscount Stormont, 2nd Earl of MansfieldDavid Murray, 2nd Earl of MansfieldDavid Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield KT, PC , known from 1748 to 1793 as The Viscount Stormont, was a British politician. He succeeded to both the Mansfield and Stormont lines of the Murray family, inheriting two titles and two fortunes.-Life:Mansfield was the son of David Murray, 6th Viscount of...
- 1795: James Graham, 3rd Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 3rd Duke of MontroseJames Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose KG, KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.-Background:...
The office was combined with that of Lord President on the death of the Duke of Montrose in 1836.
Lord President
- 1532–1543: Alexander Milne, abbot of Cambuskenneth
- 1543–1558: Robert ReidRobert Reid (bishop)Robert Reid was abbot of Kinloss, commendator-prior of Beauly, and bishop of Orkney. He was one of the greatest of the bishops of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Scotland, and his legacy was the founding of the University of Edinburgh....
, Bishop of OrkneyBishop of OrkneyThe Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St... - 1558–1565: Henry SinclairHenry Sinclair (bishop)Henry Sinclair , lord-president of the court of session and bishop of Ross.Henry Sinclair was brother of Oliver Sinclair. He studied at St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews and was appointed lord of session, 1537. In 1541 he was named abbot or perpetual commendator of the abbey of Kilwinning...
, Bishop of RossBishop of RossThe Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th... - 1565–1566: John SinclairJohn Sinclair (d. 1566)John Sinclair was an Ordinary Lord and later Lord President in the Court of Session. He married Mary, Queen of Scots to Lord Darnley.-Family:...
, Bishop of BrechinBishop of BrechinThe Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Brechin Cathedral, Brechin. The diocese had a long-established Gaelic monastic community which survived into the 13th century. The clerical establishment may very well have traced their earlier origins... - 1566–1567: William Baillie of Provand
- 1567–1593: Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich
- 1593–1604: Alexander Seton, Lord FyvieAlexander Seton, 1st Earl of DunfermlineAlexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline was a Scottish lawyer, judge and politician. He was Lord President of the Court of Session from 1598 to 1604 and Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1604 to 1622....
- 1605–1609: James Elphinstone, 1st Lord BalmerinoJames Elphinstone, 1st Lord BalmerinoJames Elphinstone, 1st Lord Balmerino was a Scottish nobleman and politician, disgraced in 1609.-Life to 1605:He was the third son of Robert Elphinstone, 3rd Lord Elphinstone, by Margaret, daughter of Sir John Drummond of Innerpeffray, and was born about 1553...
- 1609–1616: John Preston of Fenton Barns
- 1616–1625: Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of HaddingtonThomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of HaddingtonThomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington , designated before his peerage as 'of Drumcarny, Monkland, and Binning', was a Scottish administrator, Lord Advocate, judge, and Lord Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire.-Family:...
- 1626–1633: Sir James Skene of Curriehill
- 1633–1646: Sir Robert SpottiswoodRobert SpottiswoodSir Robert Spottiswood, Lord Newabbey , was a Scottish lawyer.He was the second son of John Spottiswoode , archbishop of St. Andrews, and Rachel, daughter of David Lindsay, bishop of Ross. Educated at Glasgow Grammar School, he matriculated at Glasgow University in 1609, graduating M.A. 15 March 1613...
of New Abbey - 1661–1671: Sir John Gilmour of CraigmillarJohn Gilmour of CraigmillarSir John Gilmour of Craigmillar was a Scottish judge, who served as Lord President of the Court of Session from 1661 to 1670...
- 1671–1681: James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount Stair
- 1681–1682: George Gordon, 1st Earl of AberdeenGeorge Gordon, 1st Earl of AberdeenGeorge Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen , Lord Chancellor of Scotland, was the second son of Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo, Aberdeenshire, ; by his wife, Mary Forbes.-Education:...
(?) - 1682–1685: Sir David Falconer of NewtonSir David FalconerSir David Falconer, of Newton, was a Scottish judge.The second son of Sir David Falconer of Glenfarquhar, one of the commissaries of Edinburgh, and younger brother of Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar...
- 1685–1689: Sir George Lockhart of CarnwathGeorge Lockhart (advocate)Sir George Lockhart of Carnwath was a Scottish lawyer.The son of Sir James Lockhart of Lee, laird of Lee, he was admitted as an advocate in 1656. He was knighted in 1663, and was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in 1672. He was celebrated for his persuasive eloquence...
- 1689–1695: James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount Stair
- 1698–1707: Sir Robert Berwick
- 1707–1737: Hew Dalrymple of North BerwickHew Dalrymple, Lord North BerwickSir Hew Dalrymple, Lord North Berwick was a Scottish judge and politician.The third son of James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair, he was Commissary of Edinburgh; Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland for New Galloway burgh from 1690, and for North Berwick burgh from 1702.Dalrymple was Dean...
- 1737–1748: Duncan Forbes of CullodenDuncan Forbes (judge)Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden was a Scottish politician and judge. He was President of the Court of Session.-Early life and education:...
- 1748–1754: Robert Dundas of ArnistonRobert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elderRobert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the elder was a Scottish judge.The second son of Robert Dundas he served as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1717 to 1720 and as Lord Advocate from 1720 to 1725...
- 1754–1760: Robert CraigieRobert CraigieRobert Craigie was a Scottish politician and judge. He was baptised on March 4, 1688 and died on 10 March 1760.On 2 April 1742 he was elected Member of Parliament for the Tain Burghs constituency in northern Scotland...
of Glendoick - 1760–1787: Robert Dundas of ArnistonRobert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the youngerRobert Dundas, Lord Arniston, the younger was a Scottish judge.The eldest son of Robert Dundas , he was deducated at Edinburgh University and studied Roman law at Utrecht University....
- 1787–1789: Thomas Miller, Lord GlenleeThomas Miller, Lord GlenleeSir Thomas Miller, 1st Baronet , known as Lord Glenlee during his judicial service, was a Scottish politician and judge....
- 1789–1808: Sir Ilay Campbell of SuccothSir Ilay Campbell, 1st BaronetSir Ilay Campbell of Succoth was a Scottish judge.An advocate from 1757, he was engaged in the Douglas peerage case from 1764 to 1769. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in 1783 and Lord Advocate in 1784. He became Member of Parliament for Glasgow Burghs in the same year...
- 1808–1811: Robert Blair of AvonhowRobert Blair (judge)Robert Blair of Avontoun was a Scottish lawyer who served as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1789 to 1806, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 1801 to 1808 and Lord President of the Court of Session from 1808 to his death....
- 1811–1841: Charles Hope of Granton
- 1841–1852: David BoyleDavid Boyle (Privy Counsellor)David Boyle was a Scottish judge.He became an advocate in 1793. He was Member of Parliament for Ayrshire from 1807 to 1811 during which time he was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland....
of Shewalton - 1852–1867: Duncan McNeill, Lord ColonsayDuncan McNeill, 1st Baron ColonsayDuncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay FRSE was a Scottish advocate, judge and Tory politician. He was Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session between 1852 and 1867....
- 1867–1891: John Inglis, Lord GlencorseJohn Inglis, Lord GlencorseJohn Inglis, Lord Glencorse FRSE was a Scottish politician and judge. He was Lord President of the Court of Session ....
- 1891–1899: James Robertson, Lord RobertsonJames Robertson, Baron RobertsonJames Patrick Bannerman Robertson, Baron Robertson , was a Scottish judge and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1891 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Robertson....
- 1899–1905: John Balfour, 1st Baron KinrossJohn Balfour, 1st Baron KinrossJohn Blair Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross, PC, QC was a Scottish lawyer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1899....
- 1905–1913: Andrew Murray, 1st Baron DunedinAndrew Murray, 1st Viscount DunedinAndrew Graham Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin GCVO, PC, QC was a Scottish politician and judge. He served as Secretary for Scotland between 1903 and 1905, as Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session between 1905 and 1913 and as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary between 1913 and...
- 1913–1920: Alexander Ure, 1st Baron StrathclydeAlexander Ure, 1st Baron StrathclydeAlexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde GBE was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at the University of Glasgow he was admitted to membership of the Faculty of Advocates in 1878....
- 1920–1935: James Avon Clyde, Lord Clyde
- 1935–1947: Wilfred Normand, Lord NormandWilfrid Normand, Baron NormandWilfrid Guild Normand, Baron Normand, KC, PC , was a Scottish politician and judge.Educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, Oriel College, Oxford, Paris University and Edinburgh University, he was admitted as an advocate in 1910. He served in the Royal Engineers from 1915 to 1918...
- 1947–1954: Thomas Cooper, Lord CooperThomas Cooper, 1st Baron Cooper of CulrossThomas Mackay Cooper, 1st Baron Cooper of Culross PC, KC was a Scottish politician, judge and historian.-Background and education:...
- 1954–1972: James Latham Clyde, Lord Clyde
- 1972–1989: George Emslie, Baron EmslieGeorge Emslie, Baron EmslieGeorge Carlyle Emslie, Baron Emslie. PC, MBE , was a Scottish judge.Educated at the High School of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, he was commissioned in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served in World War II in North Africa, Italy, Greece and Austria, rising to the rank of Brigade...
- 1989–1996: David Hope, Baron Hope of CraigheadDavid Hope, Baron Hope of CraigheadJames Arthur David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead, is a Scottish judge and Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, having previously been the Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.-Early life:...
- 1996–2001: Alan Rodger, Baron Rodger of EarlsferryAlan Rodger, Baron Rodger of EarlsferryAlan Ferguson Rodger, Baron Rodger of Earlsferry, FRSE, FBA, PC was a Scottish lawyer and Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom....
- 2001–2005: William Cullen, Baron Cullen of WhitekirkWilliam Cullen, Baron Cullen of WhitekirkWilliam Douglas Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk, is one of the senior members of the Scottish judiciary. He formerly served as Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session, and was an additional Lord of Appeal in the House of Lords prior to the transfer of its judicial...
- 2005–present: Arthur Campbell Hamilton, Lord Hamilton
See also
- Court of SessionCourt of SessionThe 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....
- List of Senators of the College of Justice
- List of Leading Scottish Legal Cases