Principal Clerk of Session and Justiciary

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Use British English|date=June 2017}} {{redirect|Clerk of Session|another use|Session Clerk}} {{Infobox official post |post = Principal Clerk of Session and Justiciary |member_of = [[Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service]] |insignia = Royal_Coat_of_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_(Government_in_Scotland).svg |insigniasize = 110px |insigniacaption = |image = |incumbent = Pam McFarlane |incumbentsince = August 2020 |appointer = [[Lord President of the Court of Session]] |formation = {{Start date and age|1532}} |deputy = Deputy Principal Clerk of Session<br>Deputy Principal Clerk of Justiciary |succession = |website = [https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/supreme-courts/about-the-supreme-courts/director-and-principal-clerk-of-session-and-justiciary Director and Principal Clerk of Session and Justiciary] |salary = }} {{CourtsScotland}} The '''Principal Clerk of Session and Justiciary''' is the [[clerk of court]] responsible for the administration of the [[Supreme Courts of Scotland]] and their associated staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/you_and_us/recruitment/SCS%20An%20Introduction.pdf|title=Scottish Court Service An Introduction| quote=The Supreme Courts are made up of: the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary and the Accountant of Court's Office. The Principal Clerk of Session and Justiciary is responsible for the administration of these areas|publisher=Scottish Court Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721231546/http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/you_and_us/recruitment/SCS%20An%20Introduction.pdf| archive-date=21 July 2011| accessdate=26 May 2012}}</ref> The [[Keeper of the Signet]] grants a commission to the Principal Clerk of Session to allow [[His Majesty's Signet]] to be used.

Gillian Prentice was the first woman to hold the post.{{refneeded|date=April 2017}} The Principal Clerk {{as of|lc=y|2024|2}} is Yvonne Taylor.<ref name="currentclerk">{{cite web|title=Director and Principal Clerk of Session and Justiciary|url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/supreme-courts/about-the-supreme-courts/director-and-principal-clerk-of-session-and-justiciary|website=www.scotcourts.gov.uk|publisher=Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service|accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref>

The modern office unites the originally separate offices of '''Principal Clerk of Session''' (of the [[Court of Session]]) and '''Principal Clerk of Justiciary''' (of the [[High Court of Justiciary]]).

The [[Crown_Office_and_Procurator_Fiscal_Service#Crown_Agent|Crown Agent]] takes directions from the Principal Clerk of Justiciary when arranging sittings of the High Court of Justiciary.{{refneeded|date=April 2017}}

==List of office holders== {{incomplete list|date=May 2012}} * Sir [[James Dalrymple, 1st Baronet|James Dalrymple]], son of the eminent legal scholar and statesman [[James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair|Lord Stair]] * Sir [[Sir John Dalrymple, 2nd Baronet|John Dalrymple of Kelloch]] * Sir [[Walter Scott]], novelist (appointed 1806)<ref name="Edinburgh Museums">{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/CMSTemplates/ScottMonumentVirtualTour/pages/timeline.htm|title=Timeline|work=The Scott Monument|publisher=Edinburgh Museums & Galleries|accessdate=27 May 2012|location=Edinburgh}}</ref> * [[David Hume (advocate)|David Hume]], advocate and legal scholar (appointed 1811) * [[James Fergusson (judge and legal writer)|James Fergusson]], judge and legal scholar (appointed 1826) * [[Thomas Thomson (advocate)|Thomas Thomson]], advocate (1826–1852) * [[Cosmo Innes]] (appointed 1852)

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Principal Clerks of Session and Justiciary| ]]