NEWS

The Judicial Institute for Scotland provides education and training for Scottish judges. As Head of the Scottish judiciary, The Lord President delegates responsibility for the delivery of judicial training to the Judicial Institute’s Board. The operational work is led on behalf of the Board by the Institute’s Director Sheriff Pino Di Emidio and Deputy Director Sheriff Adrian Cottam.

In addition to face to face and online courses, the Institute develops and publishes resources for practising judges including a number of benchmark texts such as the Jury Manual, Civil and Criminal Bench Books and the Equal Treatment Bench Book.

The Lord President, Lord Pentland said: “Lord Colbeck brings with him the experience of being a Judge in the Supreme Court, as well as previously having served as a Sheriff Principal and a Sheriff, all of which will be invaluable in this role. I look forward to working with Lord Colbeck and Lady Drummond in their roles in the Judicial Institute. It has never been more important or relevant in ensuring that the judiciary at all levels receive the best possible training and support.”

Lord Colbeck was appointed as a judge in the Supreme Courts in May 2023.

A graduate of the University of Strathclyde, he practised exclusively as a solicitor, becoming a partner in MacRoberts in 1997, specialising in commercial and construction disputes, and health & safety and environmental prosecutions, and served as the managing partner between 2011 and 2014.

He was appointed as a part-time sheriff in 2010, prior to being appointed as a sheriff in December 2014, sitting in Greenock and Dumbarton. He was appointed as Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin in September 2016 and served as the Vice President of the Sheriff Appeal Court from May 2022 until his appointment to the Supreme Courts. 

Lord Colbeck has been a member of the Scottish Sentencing Council since 2020. He previously served as a member of the SCTS Board and as a Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board.