Ranald MacLean, Lord MacLean
Encyclopedia
Ranald Norman Munro MacLean, Lord MacLean (born 1938) is a retired Scottish
judge.
Born on 18 December 1938, MacLean was educated at Fettes College
in Edinburgh
, where he was Head of School. He graduated BA
from Clare College, Cambridge
, LLB from the University of Edinburgh
and LLM from Yale University
.
Admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1964, MacLean served as an Advocate Depute from 1972–1975 and was the Home Advocate Depute from 1979–1982. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
(QC) in 1977.
MacLean was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
in 1990, serving until 2005. He has been a member of various bodies, including the Scottish Legal Aid Board
, the Council on Tribunals, the Parole Board for Scotland, the Secretary of State
's Criminal Justice Forum and the Stewart Committee on Alternatives to Prosecution. He was Chairman of a committee established by the Secretary of State for Scotland
to review the sentencing and treatment of serious sexual and violent offenders including those with personality disorder
s in 1999. He also chaired the inquiry into the death of loyalist leader Billy Wright
in the Maze Prison (see The Billy Wright Inquiry).
MacLean remains a member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
, and, with two other judges and five lay members, is responsible for selecting all new Scottish judges and sheriff
s.
He has been chairman of the governor
s of Fettes College
since 1996, and was chairman of the council of the Cockburn Association
from 1988-1996.
. Although the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi at the trial was widely criticised, MacLean believes the verdict was right. "I have no doubt, on the evidence we heard, that the judgments we made and the verdicts we reached were correct", he told The Scotsman newspaper on 31 January 2006.
As for Megrahi's application to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
(SCCRC), MacLean believes that the SCCRC will refer the case back for further appeal: "They can't be working for two years without producing something with which to go to the court", he suggested to The Scotsman. "But it depends upon what the bases are for a fresh appeal, but I wouldn't have a problem with that."
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...
judge.
Born on 18 December 1938, MacLean was educated at Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
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...
, where he was Head of School. He graduated BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, LLB from 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...
and LLM from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
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 1964, MacLean served as an Advocate Depute from 1972–1975 and was the Home Advocate Depute from 1979–1982. 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...
(QC) in 1977.
MacLean 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...
in 1990, serving until 2005. He has been a member of various bodies, including the Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Legal Aid Board
The Scottish Legal Aid Board is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, responsible for managing legal aid in Scotland...
, the Council on Tribunals, the Parole Board for Scotland, the Secretary of State
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
's Criminal Justice Forum and the Stewart Committee on Alternatives to Prosecution. He was Chairman of a committee established by the Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
to review the sentencing and treatment of serious sexual and violent offenders including those with personality disorder
Personality disorder
Personality disorders, formerly referred to as character disorders, are a class of personality types and behaviors. Personality disorders are noted on Axis II of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV-TR of the American Psychiatric Association.Personality disorders are...
s in 1999. He also chaired the inquiry into the death of loyalist leader Billy Wright
Billy Wright (loyalist)
William Stephen "Billy" Wright was a prominent Ulster loyalist during the period of violent religious/political conflict known as "The Troubles". He joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1975 and became commander of its Mid-Ulster Brigade in the early 1990s...
in the Maze Prison (see The Billy Wright Inquiry).
MacLean remains a member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland is public body responsible for making recommendations on appointments to judicial offices in Scotland...
, and, with two other judges and five lay members, is responsible for selecting all new Scottish judges and sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
s.
He has been chairman of the governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s of Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
since 1996, and was chairman of the council of the Cockburn Association
Cockburn Association
The Cockburn Association is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is one of the world's oldest architectural conservation and urban planning monitoring organisations....
from 1988-1996.
Lockerbie
MacLean was one of the judges who presided at the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trialPan 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...
. Although the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi at the trial was widely criticised, MacLean believes the verdict was right. "I have no doubt, on the evidence we heard, that the judgments we made and the verdicts we reached were correct", he told The Scotsman newspaper on 31 January 2006.
As for Megrahi's application to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission is a non-departmental public body in Scotland, established by the Criminal Procedure Act 1995 ....
(SCCRC), MacLean believes that the SCCRC will refer the case back for further appeal: "They can't be working for two years without producing something with which to go to the court", he suggested to The Scotsman. "But it depends upon what the bases are for a fresh appeal, but I wouldn't have a problem with that."