Public appointment: Member appointments extended to the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans today announced the extension to the appointments of Stephen Tierney and Deirdre Fulton as Lay Members to the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

Members

Stephen Tierney, F.R.S.E., is Professor of Constitutional Theory in the School of Law, University of Edinburgh, and served as Deputy Head of the Law School from 2017-20. Professor Tierney is a law graduate of the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Toronto. He teaches and researches in constitutional law, addressing the changing constitutional arrangements of the UK and Scotland and the position of judges within the constitution. He was British Academy Senior Research Fellow from 2008-2009 and Economic and Social Research Centre Senior Research Fellow from 2013-2014, the latter position dedicated to studying the law and practice of referendums. He served as constitutional adviser to the Scottish Parliament’s Referendum (Scotland) Bill Committee in 2013 and has acted as constitutional adviser to the House of Lords Constitution Committee since 2015. Professor Tierney has been a lay member with the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland since 2015. He is an Executive Committee member of the 103rd Braid Scouts and an SFA-qualified football coach, coaching a team at his children’s school in Edinburgh. Stephen has been a lay member with the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland since 2015.

Deirdre Fulton has a commercial background. She is a partner in an aviation consultancy business which provides meaningful analysis and insight to clients around the world. Prior to this, Deirdre worked at a senior level in the Scottish Aviation industry. Deirdre has been a lay member with the Judicial Appointments Board For Scotland since 2015 and brings deep experience of recruitment and assessing senior candidates for appointments.

Extension

Stephen Tierney’s extension will be for 6 months and will run from 18 May 2023 to 17 November 2023.

Deirdre Fulton’s extension will be for 6 months and will run from 1 February 2023 to 31 July 2023.

These extensions are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

These extensions are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £296 per day for a time commitment of 20 days during their extension period.

Other ministerial appointments

Stephen Tierney and Deirdre Fulton do not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. 

Stephen Tierney and Deirdre Fulton have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Board became an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) on the 1st June 2009 under the provisions of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008.

The Board's responsibilities under the Act are that:

a) selection of an individual to be recommended for appointment must be solely on merit;

b) the Board may select an individual only if it is satisfied that the individual is of good character; and

c) in carrying out its functions, the Board must have regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of individuals available for selection to be recommended for appointment to a judicial office. This is subject to the provisions a) and b) above.