# Sheriff principal

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Scottish judge

Part of a series on Scots law Administration Justice and Communities Directorate of the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice Judicial Appointments Board Judicial Complaints Reviewer Parole Board for Scotland Legal Aid Board Courts & Tribunals Service College of Justice Office of the Public Guardian Scottish Sentencing Council Law Commission Criminal Cases Review Commission Prison Service Civil courts Court of Session Lord President Lord Justice Clerk Lord of Session Office of the Accountant of Court Acts of Sederunt Sheriff Court Sheriff Appeal Court Sheriff Principal Sheriff Personal Injury Court Sheriff Criminal courts High Court of Justiciary Lord Justice-General Lord Justice Clerk Lords Commissioner of Justiciary Acts of Adjournal Sheriff courts Sheriff Appeal Court Sheriff Principal Sheriffs Justice of the peace courts Justices of the peace Special courts Court of the Lord Lyon Lord Lyon King of Arms Children's Reporter Administration Children's Hearings Land Court Lands Tribunal Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal Criminal prosecution Lord Advocate Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Advocate Depute Procurator fiscal Fiscal fine Precognition Legal profession Judiciary Faculty of Advocates Advocate Law Society Solicitor-Advocate Solicitor Association of Commercial Attorneys Scottish Legal Complaints Commission v t e

In [Scotland](/source/Scotland) a **sheriff principal** (*pl*. sheriffs principal) ([Scottish Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic_language): *àrd-siorram*) is a [judge](/source/Judge) in charge of a [sheriffdom](/source/Sheriffdom) with [judicial](/source/Judiciary), [quasi-judicial](/source/Quasi-judicial_body), and administrative responsibilities. Sheriffs principal have been part of the [judiciary of Scotland](/source/Judiciary_of_Scotland) since the 11th century. Sheriffs principal were originally appointed by the [monarch of Scotland](/source/Monarch_of_Scotland), and evolved into a heritable jurisdiction before appointment was again vested in [the Crown](/source/The_Crown) and the [monarch of the United Kingdom](/source/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom) following the passage of the [Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746](/source/Heritable_Jurisdictions_(Scotland)_Act_1746).

Under the [Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheriff_Courts_(Scotland)_Act_1971&action=edit&redlink=1) (as amended), each sheriff principal is appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the [First Minister of Scotland](/source/First_Minister_of_Scotland), who is advised by the [Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland](/source/Judicial_Appointments_Board_for_Scotland).[1] As of May 2017 there were six sheriffs principal, each of whom has responsibility not only as a judge, but for the [administration of justice](/source/Administration_of_justice) in their respective sheriffdoms. Sheriffs principal have to ensure the effective running of the [sheriff courts](/source/Sheriff_court) and [justice of the peace courts](/source/Justice_of_the_peace_court) within their jurisdiction. Following the passage of both the [Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014](/source/Courts_Reform_(Scotland)_Act_2014) and the [Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008](/source/Judiciary_and_Courts_(Scotland)_Act_2008), sheriffs principal are subject to the authority and direction of the [Lord President of the Court of Session](/source/Lord_President_of_the_Court_of_Session) as [Head of the Judiciary of Scotland](/source/Judiciary_of_Scotland).

Sheriffs principal hold additional judicial offices, including the Sheriff Principal of [Lothian and Borders](/source/Lothian_and_Borders) who is [Sheriff in Chancery](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheriff_in_Chancery&action=edit&redlink=1), and President of the [Sheriff Personal Injury Court](/source/Sheriff_Personal_Injury_Court). All of the sheriffs principal are Appeal Sheriffs and [*ex officio* members](/source/Ex_officio_member) of the [Sheriff Appeal Court](/source/Sheriff_Appeal_Court).

Outside their judicial office, each sheriff principal holds several other offices *[ex officio](/source/Ex_officio)*, including [Commissioner of Northern Lighthouses](/source/Northern_Lighthouse_Board) and *General Commissioner of Income Tax*, with each sheriff principal having a ceremonial role in their respective [sheriffdom](/source/Sheriffdom) that means they outrank all but [members of the royal family](/source/British_royal_family) and the [Lord Lieutenant](/source/Lord_Lieutenant).

The history of the sheriffs principal in Scotland is much confused because over time different names were used to refer to [sheriffs](/source/Sheriff). Sheriffs principal are those sheriffs who have held office over a [sheriffdom](/source/Sheriffdom), whether through inheritance or through direct appointment by [the Crown](/source/The_Crown). Thus, [hereditary sheriff](/source/Hereditary_sheriff) (before 1746) and [sheriff-depute](/source/Sheriff-depute) (after 1746) are the precursors to the modern office of sheriff principal. The precursor to the modern office of [sheriff](/source/Sheriff) was historically referred to as [sheriff substitute](/source/Sheriff-substitute).

## History

### Origins

[David I](/source/David_I_of_Scotland), [King of Scots](/source/List_of_Scottish_monarchs) from 1124 to 1153, appointed sheriffs as administrators and judges throughout Scotland. Such officers eventually became hereditary with a *sheriff-depute* appointed to undertake the actual judicial work of the office. It is from these sheriffs that the modern day office of sheriffs principal derives, with a final settlement on the name by the [Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheriff_Courts_(Scotland)_Act_1971&action=edit&redlink=1). The modern day office of sheriff derives from the sheriffs-substitute that were appointed by the sheriffs-depute (now sheriffs principal.)[2][3]

### 16th century

In 1540 an [Act of the Parliament of Scotland](/source/List_of_acts_of_the_Parliament_of_Scotland)[*[which?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words)*] mandated that sheriffs principal (along with [bailies](/source/Bailie) and [stewards](/source/Steward_(office))) should "hold all their three head courts by themselves in proper person, unless they have a just and lawful excuse".[4] However, in the 16th century it appears that sheriffs-depute held office entirely at the will of the sheriffs principal, and undertook the vast majority of judicial work.[5]

### 17th century

In the 17th century, under the reign of [Charles II](/source/Charles_II_of_England), the number of heritable sheriffs principal increased in recognition of his [restoration](/source/Restoration_(Scotland)) to the throne. By 1700, 21 of the 33 sheriffs principal were hereditary.[6]

### 18th century

In the 18th century, the office of hereditary sheriff principal was abolished by the [Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746](/source/Heritable_Jurisdictions_(Scotland)_Act_1746),[7][8] with the sheriffs-depute assuming the role and office of sheriff principal.

### 19th century

Until about the middle of the 19th century there were 30 sheriffs principal. Of those sheriffs principal two ([Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) and [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh)) were effectively full-time appointments while the remainder were part-time appointments filled by senior [advocates](/source/Advocates), who are members of the [Faculty of Advocates](/source/Faculty_of_Advocates). Over the years there was a gradual amalgamation of [sheriffdoms](/source/Sheriffdoms), with a consequential diminution in the number of sheriffs principal.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### 20th century

In the 20th century the sheriff principal had [appellate jurisdiction](/source/Appellate_jurisdiction) over summary causes in [civil cases](/source/Civil_law_(common_law)), with only cases that went to a full [proof](/source/Hearing_(law)) (hearing) having a right of appeal to both the sheriff principal and the Court of Session.[9]

In 1971, the [Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheriff_Courts_(Scotland)_Act_1971&action=edit&redlink=1) confirmed the naming of sheriffs principal (affirming that the office of sheriff depute should be known as sheriff principal), and that [sheriffs-substitute](/source/Sheriff-substitute) should be known as [sheriff](/source/Sheriff), stating:[3]

**4 Offices of sheriff principal and sheriff**
(1) The office of sheriff (that is to say, the office known formerly as the office of **sheriff depute**, but known immediately before the commencement of this Act as the office of sheriff) shall be known as the office of **sheriff principal**, the office of **sheriff substitute** shall be known as the office of **sheriff**, and the office of honorary sheriff substitute shall be known as the office of honorary sheriff. — Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971

The number of sheriffdoms was reduced to six in 1975 by the Sheriffdoms Reorganisation Order 1974, with all the prior sheriffdoms abolished and replaced by the following sheriffdoms:

- Grampian, Highlands and Islands;

- Tayside, Central and Fife;

- Lothian and Borders;

- Glasgow and Strathkelvin;

- North Strathclyde;

- South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway;

with each sheriffdom presided over by a single sheriff principal.[10]

The sheriffdom boundaries were amended and the sheriffdoms redescribed by the Sheriffdoms (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1996, which replaced the 1974 order. The only change to the boundaries was to move an area around [Chryston](/source/Chryston) from the sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin to the sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway.[11]

## Remit and jurisdiction

### General duties

The work of a sheriff principal is partly judicial and partly administrative, consisting broadly of the following:[12]

- conventional judicial duties in the [Sheriff courts](/source/Sheriff_Court);

- [judicial](/source/Judicial) and [quasi-judicial](/source/Quasi-judicial_body) work arising under various statutes;

- administrative functions in relation to the courts within a sheriff principal's sheriffdom;

- powers of appointment;

- miscellaneous advisory and consultative functions;

- ceremonial functions.

### Judicial

A sheriff principal sometimes sits in criminal courts or conducts major [fatal accident inquiries](/source/Fatal_accident_inquiry). Following the [passage](/source/Bill_(law)) and [commencement](/source/Coming_into_force) of the [Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014](/source/Courts_Reform_(Scotland)_Act_2014) by the [Scottish Parliament](/source/Scottish_Parliament) sheriffs principal have sat *[ex officio](/source/Ex_officio_member)* as appeal sheriffs in the [Sheriff Appeal Court](/source/Sheriff_Appeal_Court) with jurisdiction over both [civil](/source/Civil_law_(common_law)) and [criminal](/source/Criminal_law) [appeals](/source/Appeal).[13][14][15]

In terms of the [Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheriff_Courts_(Scotland)_Act_1971&action=edit&redlink=1), as reaffirmed by the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, sheriffs principal are charged with a number of duties in respect of the courts for which they are responsible, including in particular a duty “to secure the speedy and efficient disposal of business in the sheriff courts of that sheriffdom”.

### Administrative

In terms of the [Merchant Shipping Act 1995](/source/Merchant_Shipping_Act_1995) all of the sheriffs principal are Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses and serve on the [Northern Lighthouse Board](/source/Northern_Lighthouse_Board).[16]

The Sheriff Principal of [Lothian and Borders](/source/Lothian_and_Borders) is *Sheriff of Chancery* (disposes of petitions for rights of [succession](/source/Inheritance) to land and [intestate](/source/Intestate) estates; see [Chancery (Scotland)](/source/Chancery_(Scotland))).[12]: 7

A sheriff principal might serve as member of the [Scottish Civil Justice Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scottish_Civil_Justice_Council&action=edit&redlink=1), the Advisory Council on Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers, the [Criminal Justice Forum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criminal_Justice_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1), the [Security Service Tribunal](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Security_Service_Tribunal&action=edit&redlink=1), the [Intelligence Services Tribunal](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligence_Services_Tribunal&action=edit&redlink=1), and various other bodies.

## Current sheriffs principal

Sheriffs principal and their sheriffdoms[17] Sheriffdom Sheriff principal Main court Glasgow and Strathkelvin Sheriff Principal Aisha Y. Anwar KC (Hon) Glasgow Sheriff Court Grampian, Highland and Islands Temporary Sheriff Principal Eilidh MacDonald[18] Inverness Sheriff Court Lothian and Borders Sheriff Principal Nigel Ross Edinburgh Sheriff Court North Strathclyde Sheriff Principal Sean Murphy KC Paisley Sheriff Court South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Sheriff Principal Kate Dowdalls KC Hamilton Sheriff Court Tayside, Central and Fife Sheriff Principal Gillian Wade KC[19] Perth Sheriff Court

## Order of precedence

By virtue of an [Order of Precedence](/source/Order_of_precedence_in_Scotland) established by King [Edward VII](/source/Edward_VII_of_the_United_Kingdom) a sheriff principal, in his or her own sheriffdom, ranks in precedence immediately after the royal family. For that reason sheriffs principal are from time to time expected, and are occasionally commanded, to be present at royal and other ceremonial functions within their sheriffdoms.

Order of precedence in Scotland Preceded by Lords Lieutenant (see list here) Order of precedence in Scotland (gentlemen) Succeeded by David Lammy as Lord Chancellor

## See also

- [Sheriff court](/source/Sheriff_court)

- [Courts of Scotland](/source/Courts_of_Scotland)

- [Scots law](/source/Scots_law)

- [Sheriff](/source/Sheriff#Scotland)

- [Sheriff-substitute](/source/Sheriff-substitute)

- [Senator of the College of Justice](/source/Senator_of_the_College_of_Justice)

## External links

- [Scottish Court Service](https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk)

- [Faculty of Advocates](https://www.advocates.org.uk)

- [Law Society of Scotland](https://www.lawscot.org.uk)

- [Jurisdiction of Scottish courts](https://web.archive.org/web/20041205124938/http://www.jonathanmitchell.info/jurisdiction.html)

- [Judicial Appointments Board](http://www.judicialappointmentsscotland.gov.uk/)

## Bibliography

- Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia of the Laws of Scotland

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971"](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/58/contents). Retrieved 19 October 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** de Funiak, William Q. (1964). ["The Legal System of Scotland"](http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/tulr38&div=14&g_sent=1&collection=journals). *Tulane Law Review*. **XXXVIII**. Tulane University: 91–102.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_3-1) ["Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971"](https://legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/58/), *[legislation.gov.uk](/source/Legislation.gov.uk)*, [The National Archives](/source/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)), 1971 c. 58

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["That the sheriffs and other officers be personally present at the three head courts"](https://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1540/12/13). *Records of the Parliaments of Scotland*. **1540** (71). University of St Andrews. 13 December 1540.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Willock, Ian Douglas (1966). "Chapter V - Sheriff Courts". *The Origins and Development of the Jury in Scotland*. Edinburgh: Stair Society. pp. 95–98.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Sheriff Court Records"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210615191440/https://nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/sheriff-court-records). *www.nrscotland.gov.uk*. National Records of Scotland. Archived from [the original](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/sheriff-court-records) on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-heritable_7-0)** ["Heritable jurisdictions - Oxford Reference"](http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095932563). *Oxford Reference*. Oxford University Press. 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-act_1746_43_8-0)** ["Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746"](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apgb/Geo2/20/43/contents). *Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain*. 20 Geo. II (c. 43). 1746. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Beckman, Gail McKnightr (January 1972). ["The Availability of Legal Services to Poor People and People of Limited Means in Foreign Systems"](http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/intlyr6&collection=journals&startid=&endid=178&id=172). *International Lawyer*. **6** (1). [American Bar Association](/source/American_Bar_Association): 162–168.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Statutory Instrument 1974 No. 2087](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1974/2087) *The Sheriffdoms Reorganisation Order 1974* (Coming into force 1 January 1975)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Statutory Instrument 1996 No. 1006](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1006) *The Sheriffdoms (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1996* (Coming into force 1 April 1996)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sheriffprincipal2014_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sheriffprincipal2014_12-1) ["The office of sheriff principal in Scotland"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140811163814/http://www.judicialappointmentsscotland.gov.uk/judicial/files/Office_Sheriff_Principal.pdf) (PDF). [Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland](/source/Judicial_Appointments_Board_for_Scotland). Archived from [the original](http://www.judicialappointmentsscotland.gov.uk/judicial/files/Office_Sheriff_Principal.pdf) (PDF) on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-act2014_13-0)** Scottish Parliament. *[Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014](https://legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/18)* as amended (see also [enacted form](https://legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/18/enacted)), from [legislation.gov.uk](/source/Legislation.gov.uk).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-appealsheriffs_14-0)** Agency, The Zen (30 October 2015). ["An overview of the new Sheriff Appeal Court"](http://www.bto.co.uk/blog/is-orange-the-new-black-when-it-comes-to-the-new-system-for-appeals-in-scotland.aspx). *www.bto.co.uk*. BTO Solicitors LLP. Retrieved 3 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-criminaljustice_15-0)** McCallum, Frazer (1 June 2016). ["The Scottish Criminal Justice System:The Criminal Courts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170407055256/http://www.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets/S5/SB_16-46_The_Scottish_Criminal_Justice_System-The_Criminal_Courts.pdf) (PDF). *parliament.scot*. Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Archived from [the original](http://www.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets/S5/SB_16-46_The_Scottish_Criminal_Justice_System-The_Criminal_Courts.pdf) (PDF) on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Merchant Shipping Act 1998, Schedule 8, paragraph 1(2)(c).](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/21/schedule/8)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sheriffsprincipal_17-0)** ["Sheriffs Principal - Judicial Office Holders - About the Judiciary - Judiciary of Scotland"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111237/http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/35/0/Sheriffs-Principal/). *www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk*. Judicial Office for Scotland. 2017. Archived from [the original](http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/35/0/Sheriffs-Principal/) on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SPWilidhMacDonald_18-0)** ["Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald appointed Temporary Sheriff Principal"](https://judiciary.scot/home/media-information/media-hub-news/2025/06/02/sheriff-eilidh-macdonald-appointed-temporary-sheriff-principal). *www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk*. Judicial Office for Scotland. 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SPGillianWadeKC_19-0)** ["New Sheriff Principal for Tayside, Central and Fife"](https://www.judiciary.scot/home/media-information/media-hub-news/2023/08/04/new-sheriff-principal-for-tayside-central-and-fife). *www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk*. Judicial Office for Scotland. 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sheriff principal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff_principal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff_principal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.