NO, MINISTER: Justice Secretary claims Holyrood transparency legislation for register of judges’ interests - would undermine top judge who refused to meet Justice Committee on EIGHT YEAR judicial register petition

Justice Sec. Humza Yousaf opposes judicial transparency. SCOTLAND’S Justice Secretary has attempted to block further action in an EIGHT YEAR Holyrood judicial transparency probe – by claiming any primary legislation created by MSPs to require judges to declare their interests – could undermine Scotland’s top judge – who is also opposed to Petition PE1458: Register of Interests for members of Scotland's judiciary.

Writing in a letter to Margaret Mitchell MSP - Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee – Justice Secretary Humza Housaf claimed: “I would caution however that if such a register were to be established by way of legislation, rather than through the powers of the Lord President, this may be perceived as undermining the principle of judicial independence and the separation of powers between the judiciary and other branches of government.”

The cross party backed judicial register petition filed at the Scottish Parliament in 2012 – calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests – containing information on all judges’ backgrounds, figures relating to personal wealth, undeclared earnings, business & family connections inside & outside of the legal profession, membership of organisations, property and land, offshore investments, hospitality, details on recusals and other information routinely lodged in registers of interest across all walks of public life in the UK and around the world.

Mr Yousaf also told the Justice Committee that recent details of Scottish judges working in the Gulf States while serving in Scotland were not relevant because since the judge was allegedly acting as a judge on a temporary basis – the rules did not apply to him.

However court opinions previously provided to MSPs confirm Scottish judges heard cases in the Court of Session while also working in the United Arab Emirates.

The Justice Committee previously considered material in relation to Scottish judges serving in the Gulf States & United Arab Emirates – reported in further detail here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee to hear evidence from ex-Judicial Investigator, top judge on judicial interests register, MSP says Scottish judges should not be involved with Gulf States implicated in unlawful wars, mistreatment of women's rights

John Finnie MSP - Scots Judges serving in Gulf States - Justice Committee 28 May 2019

During a hearing on 28 May 2019, Justice Committee member John Finnie MSP said “I do not agree with the idea that anyone connected with the Scottish judiciary could have any role whatsoever in the United Arab Emirates.”

“I looked yesterday at the Human Rights Watch world report, which does a country by country breakdown. The United Arab Emirates is a country that is intolerant of criticism, which has played a leading role in unlawful acts in Yemen, and whose treatment of migrant workers’ rights and women’s rights is shocking. It is a country that permits domestic violence.”

I do not think that any reasonable examination of the role of a public official—and I get the point about the separation of the judiciary—would say that involvement in such a country is acceptable.”

“I believe that we need to do something and I am not content with the cabinet secretary’s response, which is just playing out the same line as before—that there is nothing to see here and we should move on.”

“I do not think that this issue will move on until we have the openness and transparency that people rightly expect of public office.”

Earlier in April 2019, Mr Yousaf wrote to the Justice Committee, claiming ““no further evidence has been provided to the Justice Committee that strengthens the arguments already put forward in favour of the introduction of the register.”

However, the 2019 letter from the Justice Secretary was found to have copied much of it’s content from a letter dated April 2014 – from the then Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to the Public Petitions Committee – reported in more detail here: COPY MINISTER: ‘Copied’ content from ex Minister sent by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf to Holyrood MSPs - Public must rely on judges judging judges for transparency, Scottish Government will not create register of judges’ interests

The latest attempt by the Scottish Government to scupper the eight year probe of a cross party supported petition to create a register of judges’ interests comes after a previous Minister for Legal Affairs - Paul Wheelhouse told the Public Petitions Committee in 2014 the judiciary were concerned gangsters could see their interests.

It later transpired Mr Wheelhouse was accused of misleading MSPs after files obtained via Freedom of Information revealed there was no basis for such claims, and Ministerial advisers had attempted to hunt down any leads to back up Mr Wheelhouse - without success.

And, despite Mr Wheelhouse misleading claims of gangsters & judges – a probe by journalists uncovered instances of members of Scotland’s judiciary representing some of the country’s top gangsters in the same courts in which they serve as judges.

Former Legal Affairs Minister Paul Wheelhouse evidence to the Public Petitions Committee can be found here: TOO MANY SECRETS: Legal Affairs Minister ‘anti-transparency’ evidence to MSPs a ‘poor substitute for top judge’ as Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee consider next move on proposal to create a register of interests for judges

Mr Wheelhouse’ evidence to MSPs came during a concerted attempt by Scotland’s then top judge – Brian Gill – to block MSPs from continuing to investigate plans to create a register of judges’ interests – which – later in October 2014 – saw a full debate at the Scottish Parliament, resulting in cross party support for Petition PE1458.

In 2015, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also intervened in the petition, demanding the petition be closed due to the judiciary’s concerns of media and public scrutiny of judges interests – reported in further detail here: INTERESTS INTERVENE: First Minister joins top judge in bid to block register of judicial interests as MSPs consider recalling Legal Affairs Minister over dodgy evidence & private meeting with Lord Gill

Despite a barrage of opposition from Scotland’s judiciary and vested legal interests, the Public Petitions Committee continued work on Petition Pe1458 for a number of years, concluding a register of judges’ interests could, and should be created.

The decision by the Public Petitions Committee to endorse the petition was reported in further detail here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Holyrood Petitions Committee calls for legislation to require Scotland’s judges to declare their interests in a register of judicial Interests

MSPs on the Public Petitions Committee also looked at a model used by Norway for declarations of judges’ interests, supporting the introduction of a similar register in Scotland.

In Norway, judges must complete a register of interests listing honorary posts, investments, memberships of political parties, companies, religious communities and charities among others.

The Norwegian model of judicial interest disclosure was hailed by the Public Petitions Committee as model for Scotland’s judges to follow.

More on Norway’s register of judges’ interests can be found here: NORWAY, M’LORD: Judicial interests register of Norway cited as example to follow for Holyrood MSPs six year investigation to create a register of judges’ interests in Scotland

And in November 2019, the Convener of the Justice Committee wrote to Lord Carloway informing the top judge MSPs were minded to support the petition as the judiciary had not put forward any convincing arguments against the creation of a register of judges’ interests p reported here: JUDGES MUST DECLARE: Holyrood Justice Committee back cross party supported proposal to require Scotland’s judges to declare all financial interests and other links in a publicly available register of judicial interests

Scotland’s top judge Lord Carloway also wrote to the Justice Committee in late January, refusing a second request from the Justice Committee to face questions on his opposition to the creation of a register of judicial interests.

Lord Carloway’s most recent refusal to give evidence and his letter are reported in further detail here: JUDGE JUDGES: Scotland’s top judge refuses to face MSPs on judiciary’s EIGHT YEAR battle against register of judges’ interests – Lord Carloway says he will not attend Holyrood to ‘rehearse the same arguments which have not apparently found favour’

Letter from Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf to Margaret Mitchell, Convener Justice Committee 07 February 2020

Public Petition PE 1458: Register of interests for members of Scotland’s judiciary

Thank you for your letter of 22 November asking me to review the evidence you heard on 19 November and the previous evidence taken regarding this petition and to then set out in detail why I do not think it is necessary to establish a register.

The evidence of 19 November: Written Evidence

On the 19 November, the Committee considered written evidence in the form of a letter from the petitioner. I think it is important to address a number of issues with the evidence contained in his letter. The Lord President does not appoint judges or sheriffs to the bench. Judicial appointments are made by the Scottish Ministers on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS). JABS are an independent statutory body and carry out a rigorous recruitment process which involves written application, tests, interview, references and background checks carried out before recommendations are made based on merit from candidates who meet statutory criteria.

The petitioner highlights the press coverage of two former Scottish judges sitting in other jurisdictions. One of these judges was retired, the other was still a temporary judge at the relevant time. Once a member of the judiciary has retired, the individual would not be included in any proposed register of interests. Temporary judges are not full time salaried judiciary. These are judges who can be called on to cover gaps in the court rota and therefore not covered by the restrictions on other employment which full time judiciary are. Whilst a register of interests would have disclosed this additional work, it would not have prevented it being carried out.

Since the Petition was originally introduced to the Parliament, a register of recusals was introduced in 2014 and, I understand, is being used by both the judiciary and those appearing in court. From 1 February 2018, the register was extended to also include members of the Scottish Tribunals. The reasons for recusal tend to relate to personal knowledge of a litigant or witness or previous involvement in another relevant case. The register of recusals does not appear to have highlighted the sort of problems with conflicts of interest of the nature that the petitioner is concerned about. For clarification also, there are 277 justices of the peace, rather than 450.

The proposed reforms to the law of corroboration in Scotland, which the petitioner refers to, were aimed at addressing the difficulty in prosecuting certain types of criminal cases . These proposals were based on detailed research and analysis conducted by Lord Carloway and set out in a published report. It is difficult to see the relevance of this as evidence in support of a register of judicial interests.

The petitioner cites extensive written submissions of evidence in relation to this petition and the Committee have asked that I review all previous evidence. In doing so, I can see that almost half of those submissions are from the petitioner and over one third are either correspondents declining to make a submission or from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service or the Lord President and present evidence which is not in support of the register. The petitioner’s submissions do not always raise new evidence and cover some matters that would be outwith the scope of this petition.

Oral evidence: In terms of the oral evidence taken, a considerable part of this discussion focussed on the system for complaints about members of the judiciary. I note the point raised that Scotland differs from other jurisdictions in that upheld complaints are not published. I agree that this is a matter that consideration could be given to as it is transparent and consistent with the complaint process for many professions, however complaints against the judiciary are the responsibility of the Lord President and there may be valid reasons why complaints are not published. I also note the distinction that was explained by Ms Ali between judicial decisions and service complaints about the judiciary. This was followed by discussion on independence and accountability.

I have also considered the written and oral submissions from Professor Alan Paterson, the academic who has contributed views on this petition. I note that Professor Paterson told the Public Petitions Committee that he had not reached a concluded opinion on a register of interests for the Scottish judiciary. He explains that this question comes back to the role of the judiciary in a democracy and there is a need to balance judicial independence and accountability. Professor Paterson told the Public Petitions Committee that he considers transparency as part of accountability. I would agree with this point and I’m of the view that the judiciary’s decision making is transparent and subject to appeal.

International factors: At the time the Petition was lodged, and in a number of the petitioner’s subsequent written submissions, reference is made to the New Zealand Parliament’s consideration of a judicial register of interests. By a large majority, the New Zealand Parliament voted down a Bill to create a register after considering the whole issue and its difficulties. Few analogous jurisdictions to Scotland have legislated for a judicial register of interests, and those that have did so in response to evidence of challenges specific to those jurisdictions. South Africa, for example, created one as part of cementing its new democracy.

The Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) is an independent international body tasked with monitoring and advancing anti-corruption measures in countries across the world. It has examined the need for a judicial register of interests twice in Scotland and the most recent report of the Fourth Evaluation Round concluded that there was no evidence of corruption in relation to the judiciary in Scotland or of judicial decisions being influenced inappropriately. They do not recommend the introduction of an asset declaration scheme.

Ways to introduce a scheme: Your letter also asked for the Scottish Government’s view of what would be involved in establishing such a register and whether this would require primary legislation or could be achieved by some other means.

At present, and in line with the requirement to uphold the continued independence of the judiciary, set out in section 1 of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, Scottish Ministers do not have existing powers to establish such a register, whether voluntary or mandatory. Accordingly primary legislation would be required to implement any such register.

I would caution however that if such a register were to be established by way of legislation, rather than through the powers of the Lord President, this may be perceived as undermining the principle of judicial independence and the separation of powers between the judiciary and other branches of government.

Conclusion: My predecessors set out in detail in earlier correspondence the safeguards in place. These safeguards are the judicial oath, the statement of principles of judicial ethics and the various rules made under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 which concern complaints about the judiciary and judicial conduct. I would draw particular attention to the statement of principles of judicial ethics. This is some thirty five pages long and sets out clearly the standards judicial office holders are expected to meet. Breach of the ethics can result in serious consequences for a judicial office holder. Having considered the evidence, I share the views of both of my predecessors that there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure the impartiality of the judiciary.

As mentioned previously, in the time since this petition was lodged with the Parliament, further measures have been introduced for, and by, the judiciary; such as the register of recusals and publication of judicial expenses and overseas travel. I believe that these measures have increased the transparency of the judiciary.

I am also mindful of the statutory requirement within the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, that Scottish Ministers and Members of the Scottish Parliament must uphold the continued independence of the judiciary.

I have given further consideration to the matter and have considered the evidence before the Justice Committee. I remain of the view that it is not necessary to establish a register of interests. I hope the detail of this letter explains my reasons for that

EIGHT YEAR JUDICIAL INTERESTS PROBE:

The judicial register petition - first debated at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee in January 2013 – calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests.

A full debate on the proposal to require judges to declare their interests was held at the Scottish Parliament on 9 October 2014 - ending in a motion calling on the Scottish Government to create a register of judicial interests. The motion was overwhelmingly supported by MSPs from all political parties.

The lengthy Scottish Parliament probe on judicial interests has generated over sixty two submissions of evidence, at least twenty one Committee hearings, a private meeting and fifteen speeches by MSPs during a full Holyrood debate and has since been taken over by Holyrood’s Justice Committee after a recommendation to take the issue forward from the Public Petitions Committee in March 2018.

A full report containing video footage of every hearing, speech, and evidence sessions at the Scottish Parliament on Petition PE1458 can be found here: Scottish Parliament debates, speeches & evidence sessions on widely supported judicial transparency petition calling for a Register of Interests for Scotland's judiciary.

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has consistently supported calls for a judicial interests register over multiple hearings – where MSPs have spoken out on Scottish judges involvement in the Gulf States, reported here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee to hear evidence from ex-Judicial Investigator, top judge on judicial interests register, MSP says Scottish judges should not be involved with Gulf States implicated in unlawful wars, mistreatment of women's rights

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in May 2019 – where MSPs backed the petition - can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee investigate approach to judges’ interests in other countries – MSPs say ‘Recusals register not comprehensive enough’ ‘Openness & transparency do not contradict independence of the judiciary’

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in February 2019 – where evidence in relation to Scottish judges swearing dual judicial oaths and working for Human Rights abusing Gulf States dictatorships - can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER - MSPs urged to take forward SEVEN year petition to create a Register of Judges’ Interests as Holyrood Justice Committee handed evidence of Scottish Judges serving in Gulf states regimes known to abuse Human Rights

TWO TOP SCOTS JUDGES FAIL IN HOLYROOD JUDICIAL TRANSPARENCY PROBE:

Both of Scotland’s recent top judges failed to convince MSPs that a register of interests is not required for judges – even after both Lord Presidents attempted to press home the existence of judicial oaths and ethics – which are both written, and approved by – judges.

Video footage and a full report on Lord Brian Gill giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament in November 2015 can be found here: JUDGE ANOTHER DAY: Sparks fly as top judge demands MSPs close investigation on judges’ secret wealth & interests - Petitions Committee Chief brands Lord Gill’s evidence as “passive aggression”

Video footage and a full report on Lord Carloway (Colin Sutherland) giving widely criticised evidence to the Scottish Parliament in July 2017 can be found here: REGISTER TO JUDGE: Lord Carloway criticised after he blasts Parliament probe on judicial transparency - Top judge says register of judges’ interests should only be created if judiciary discover scandal or corruption within their own ranks

Previous articles on the lack of transparency within Scotland’s judiciary, investigations by Diary of Injustice including reports from the media, and video footage of debates at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee can be found here : A Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary.

JUDGE JUDGES: Scotland’s top judge refuses to face MSPs on judiciary’s EIGHT YEAR battle against register of judges’ interests – Lord Carloway says he will not attend Holyrood to ‘rehearse the same arguments which have not apparently found favour’

Lord Carloway refused request to face MSPs. SCOTLAND’S top judge Lord Carloway – has refused a second request from Holyrood’s powerful Justice Committee to face questions on judges’ opposition to an EIGHT YEAR petition calling for the creation of a register of judicial interests - Petition PE1458: Register of Interests for members of Scotland's judiciary

In a letter to Margaret Mitchell MSP – Lord Carloway (real name Colin Sutherland) informed the Convener of the Justice Committee he would not attend Holyrood to “rehearse the same arguments which have not apparently found favour”.

The uncompromising – yet unconvincing letter from the top judge is a veiled reference to previous unconvincing arguments against judicial transparency put forward by both Lord Carloway and his predecessor - Lord Brian Gill – who both demanded an end to MSPs investigations of judges’ interests.

The letter from Scotland’s top judge to MSPs - dated 29 January 2020 but only published by Holyrood earlier this week – is loaded with contentions that judges can only judge judges – and ends with a previously used veiled threat to the Scottish Parliament over alleged constitutionality of elected politicians creating legislation to require judges to declare their interests.

Lord Carloway also rehearses previous arguments put forward to MSPs on sponsored studies by EU judicial quango groups – even though the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020.

It should be noted both the Public Petitions Committee and Justice Committee have heard the same arguments put forward by the judiciary over the course of eight years, yet both Committees found judges’ arguments against transparency and judicial declarations to be unconvincing against the weight of cross party, media and public support for a judicial register.

And in November 2019, the Convener of the Justice Committee wrote to Lord Carloway informing the top judge MSPs were minded to support the petition as the judiciary had not put forward any convincing arguments against the creation of a register of judges’ interests p reported here: JUDGES MUST DECLARE: Holyrood Justice Committee back cross party supported proposal to require Scotland’s judges to declare all financial interests and other links in a publicly available register of judicial interests

The cross party backed judicial register petition calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests – containing information on all judges’ backgrounds, figures relating to personal wealth, undeclared earnings, business & family connections inside & outside of the legal profession, membership of organisations, property and land, offshore investments, hospitality, details on recusals and other information routinely lodged in registers of interest across all walks of public life in the UK and around the world.

The Justice Committee’s note of support follows over SIX YEARS of investigations by the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee – who also concluded a register of judges’ interests was workable and could be created – despite similar arguments put forward by Carloway’s predecessor Lord Brian Gill who warned MSPs they did not have the power to require judges to declare their interests.

The decision by the Public Petitions Committee to endorse the petition was reported in further detail here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Holyrood Petitions Committee calls for legislation to require Scotland’s judges to declare their interests in a register of judicial Interests

And, like Lord Carloway – Brian Gill refused two requests to face MSPs questions on the petition – only finally showing up at Holyrood in November 2015 after the top judge retired earlier that year.

The Justice Committee will consider Petition PE1458 at a meeting on Tuesday 10 March 2020.

Lord Carloway’s letter to Margaret Mitchell MSP Convener of the Justice Committee:

I thank you for your letter of 22 November 2019 in which you indicate that the Justice Committee is inclined to support the principle behind the petition of a judicial register of interests. I have, once again, considered the matter very carefully. As I mentioned in my letter of 23 August 2019, if substantive new issues had been identified then I would have been happy to address them. However, no new issues have been identified.

Over the course of 7 years, I and my predecessor have repeatedly explained our view that a register of judicial interests is constitutionally inappropriate, unnecessary, disproportionate, unsupported by objective evidence, and incapable of achieving its stated aim. On a practical level, it would have negative effects on judicial retention and recruitment at a time when attracting quality applicants for judicial office is, as I suspect you are already aware, extremely challenging. It would be cumbersome to operate. It would provide additional means for disgruntled litigants to target judges and their families. Elected office and judicial office are not comparable. The checks and balances applicable to each are different by conscious design. Judges and sheriffs are fully accountable for each and every decision which they take. Those decisions are taken in open forum and subject to appeal. At each stage the actions of the court are governed by clear and transparent legal rules. The nature of political decision-making is very different from that of legal decision-making. That is why the checks and balances are correspondingly different.

The Committee will be familiar with the Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO). The Committee undertakes regular independent investigations into anti-corruption mechanisms in member states. It concluded (at para 133), once again, in its Fourth Evaluation Round Report about our judiciary that there is no "element of corruption in relation to judges, nor is there evidence of judicial decisions being influenced in an inappropriate manner... What was said in the First Evaluation Round Report with respect to the absence of a system for formal registration of interests of judges is still valid. GRECO did not recommend the introduction of an asset declaration system at that time and the GET found no change of circumstance that require such a recommendation at this time". GRECO is an important independent source of evidence on how our legal system functions. In the absence of any objective suggestions of corrupt practices, and by that I mean from those without axes to grind, I would suggest that no additional controls, beyond those already in place, are desirable.

The Committee appears already to have reached at least a preliminary view on the matter. There would seem to be little value in wasting the Committee's time with a third Parliamentary appearance only to rehearse the same arguments which have not apparently found favour.

I have mentioned previously that the question of whether to have a register of interests for the judiciary is not something that can be considered in isolation. It forms part of a larger equation which bears on judicial recruitment, retention, reward, quality, independence and effectiveness. As part of ensuring that this equation continues to balance, the Committee may be interested to know that a judicial working group of the Judicial Council, comprising members drawn from each of the judicial ranks, has been working for some months on a project to refresh the Statement of Principles of Judicial Ethics. The Statement is a cornerstone in supporting judicial independence, impartiality and integrity. It builds on tire UN Bangalore Principles.

At its most recent meetings, the group has focussed on the extent to which judges may undertake extra judicial activities. In due course, the Judicial Council will be considering whether or not, among a range of other measures, a system of permissions for commercial activity has a place in any adjusted code of ethics. Regardless of the decisions which the group may eventually reach, the Committee can have confidence that they will have been arrived at after deep consideration of the likely effects of any change across the whole judicial system. That is the most effective means by which such questions can be explored and resolved.

I remain of the view that, from the constitutional perspective, the extent of any monitoring of judicial conduct, including judges' interests relative to the performance of their duties, should remain a matter for the Judiciary and not for Government or Parliament. I note that almost every country in Europe and the Commonwealth agrees with this analysis.

While Scotland’s judiciary have conducted an eight year resistance to proposals to make the judiciary as transparent as elected politicians, other jurisdictions such as Norway, the USA, and other countries have operated registers of judicial interests and requirements on judges to publish their financial reports without any issues.

In Norway, judges must complete a register of interests listing honorary posts, investments, memberships of political parties, companies, religious communities and charities among others.

The Norwegian model of judicial interest disclosure was hailed by the Public Petitions Committee as model for Scotland’s judges to follow.

More on Norway’s register of judges’ interests can be found here: NORWAY, M’LORD: Judicial interests register of Norway cited as example to follow for Holyrood MSPs six year investigation to create a register of judges’ interests in Scotland

EIGHT YEAR JUDICIAL INTERESTS PROBE:

The judicial register petition - first debated at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee in January 2013 – calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests.

A full debate on the proposal to require judges to declare their interests was held at the Scottish Parliament on 9 October 2014 - ending in a motion calling on the Scottish Government to create a register of judicial interests. The motion was overwhelmingly supported by MSPs from all political parties.

The lengthy Scottish Parliament probe on judicial interests has generated over sixty two submissions of evidence, at least twenty one Committee hearings, a private meeting and fifteen speeches by MSPs during a full Holyrood debate and has since been taken over by Holyrood’s Justice Committee after a recommendation to take the issue forward from the Public Petitions Committee in March 2018.

A full report containing video footage of every hearing, speech, and evidence sessions at the Scottish Parliament on Petition PE1458 can be found here: Scottish Parliament debates, speeches & evidence sessions on widely supported judicial transparency petition calling for a Register of Interests for Scotland's judiciary.

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has consistently supported calls for a judicial interests register over multiple hearings – where MSPs have spoken out on Scottish judges involvement in the Gulf States, reported here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee to hear evidence from ex-Judicial Investigator, top judge on judicial interests register, MSP says Scottish judges should not be involved with Gulf States implicated in unlawful wars, mistreatment of women's rights

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in May 2019 – where MSPs backed the petition - can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee investigate approach to judges’ interests in other countries – MSPs say ‘Recusals register not comprehensive enough’ ‘Openness & transparency do not contradict independence of the judiciary’

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in February 2019 – where evidence in relation to Scottish judges swearing dual judicial oaths and working for Human Rights abusing Gulf States dictatorships - can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER - MSPs urged to take forward SEVEN year petition to create a Register of Judges’ Interests as Holyrood Justice Committee handed evidence of Scottish Judges serving in Gulf states regimes known to abuse Human Rights

TWO TOP SCOTS JUDGES FAIL IN HOLYROOD JUDICIAL TRANSPARENCY PROBE:

Both of Scotland’s recent top judges failed to convince MSPs that a register of interests is not required for judges – even after both Lord Presidents attempted to press home the existence of judicial oaths and ethics – which are both written, and approved by – judges.

Video footage and a full report on Lord Brian Gill giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament in November 2015 can be found here: JUDGE ANOTHER DAY: Sparks fly as top judge demands MSPs close investigation on judges’ secret wealth & interests - Petitions Committee Chief brands Lord Gill’s evidence as “passive aggression”

Video footage and a full report on Lord Carloway (Colin Sutherland) giving widely criticised evidence to the Scottish Parliament in July 2017 can be found here: REGISTER TO JUDGE: Lord Carloway criticised after he blasts Parliament probe on judicial transparency - Top judge says register of judges’ interests should only be created if judiciary discover scandal or corruption within their own ranks

Previous articles on the lack of transparency within Scotland’s judiciary, investigations by Diary of Injustice including reports from the media, and video footage of debates at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee can be found here : A Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary.

JUDGES MUST DECLARE: Holyrood Justice Committee back cross party supported proposal to require Scotland’s judges to declare all financial interests and other links in a publicly available register of judicial interests

Justice Committee issues backing for Judicial Register. A CROSS-PARTY supported proposal to require all members of Scotland’s near 700 strong judiciary to declare and register their financial interests, links to big business and other connections has moved a step closer after MSPs declared their support for Petition PE1458: Register of Interests for members of Scotland's judiciary

The Justice Committee published a letter from Margaret Mitchell MSP, Convener of Holyrood’s powerful Justice Committee to Scotland’s top judge Lord Carloway – in which Ms Mitchell states: “After this evidence session and a previous one, the Committee is minded to support the principle behind the petition of a judicial register of interests as it has yet to hear a convincing case against.”

The cross party backed judicial register petition calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests – containing information on judges’ backgrounds, figures relating to personal wealth, undeclared earnings, business & family connections inside & outside of the legal profession, membership of organisations, property and land, offshore investments, hospitality, details on recusals and other information routinely lodged in registers of interest across all walks of public life in the UK and around the world.

Support from the Justice Committee to advance the judicial transparency proposal - comes after six years of investigation by the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee – who unanimously backed the petition in the face of strong resistance from Scotland’s judiciary, and two years of work by the Justice Committee - who have now gone on the record with their support for a publicly available register requiring all judges in Scotland to declare their interests - in the same way all members of the Scottish Parliament declare their interests.

While in theory, all UK judges including Scotland’s judiciary have a duty to declare all relevant interests in cases they hear in court, a number of serious cases have come to light via media investigations – revealing judges are routinely failing to declare key interests – even when their own family members are before them in court.

In one serious example of a failure to declare interests, Lord Malcolm (real name Colin Campbell QC) heard a damages claim EIGHT TIMES while his own son – Ewen Campbell – represented the defenders in the same court.

The case involving Lord Malcolm generated significant interest as it was not just any ordinary case – it was an appeal linked to a multi million pound damages claim involving defenders represented by a then serving member of the judiciary – (now former Sheriff) Peter Watson - who was later suspended for a record three years plus over his links to a £28M writ involving the £400M Heather Capital Hedge Fund collapse - and then resigned in 2019.

The investigation into the Lord Malcolm case of serious failures to declare conflicts of interest,  is reprinted here: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Papers lodged at Holyrood judicial interests register probe reveal Court of Session judge heard case eight times - where his son acted as solicitor for the defenders

A number of other cases where judges failed to recuse have also come to light, and cases where the Judicial Office failed to publish recusals – including at least one hearing involving Lord Bracadale (real name Alistair Campbell) - were drawn to the attention of the Public Petitions Committee during their long six year investigation of the proposal calling for a register of judicial interests.

An investigation revealing the Judicial Office altered the Register of Judicial Recusals - one year after Lord Bracadale recused from a case – and only after journalists questioned the Judicial Office on the omission, can be found here: RECUSALS UNLIMITED: Doubts over credibility of register of judges’ recusals - as Judicial Office admit court clerks failed to add details of senior judges recusals – then silently altered records a year later

The full letter from Margaret Mitchell, Convener of the Justice Committee – to Lord Carloway - was published by the Justice Committee as follows:

Dear Lord President,

Petition 1458 - Proposal to establish a register of judicial interests

I write regarding the above Petition which the Justice Committee considered on 19 November. After this evidence session and a previous one, the Committee is minded to support the principle behind the petition of a judicial register of interests as it has yet to hear a convincing case against.

The Committee thanks you for your letter of 23 August 2019 on this subject. However in light of the above, members agreed it wanted to give you the opportunity to relate your views, in person, as to why a register of judicial interests should not be established.

I should be grateful, therefore, if you would indicate whether you, or a representative of the Judicial Office, would be willing to give oral evidence on the petition in the New Year. If so, in order to move forward. I would be grateful if your officials would contact the Justice clerks to discuss a mutually convenient date.

Finally it would be extremely helpful if you would provide further details on your views of what would be involved in establishing such a register and whether this would require primary legislation or could be achieved by some other means through the powers that you have as Lord President.

I look forward to your response. Best wishes,

Margaret Mitchell MSP Convener, Justice Committee

While Scotland’s judiciary have conducted an eight year resistance to proposals to make the judiciary as transparent as elected politicians, other jurisdictions such as Norway, the USA, and other countries have oeprated registers of judicial interests and requirements on judges to publish their financial reports without any issues.

In Norway, judges must complete a register of interests listing honorary posts, investments, memberships of political parties, companies, religious communities and charities among others.

The Norwegian model of judicial interest disclosure was hailed by the Public Petitions Committee as model for Scotland’s judges to follow.

More on Norway’s register of judges’ interests can be found here: NORWAY, M’LORD: Judicial interests register of Norway cited as example to follow for Holyrood MSPs six year investigation to create a register of judges’ interests in Scotland

After hearing evidence from Scotland’s first Judicial Complaints Reviewer (JCR) – Moi Ali in a hearing last November, the Justice Committee have also invited Lord Carloway to attend Holyrood to face further questions on his opposition to judicial transparency.

During that hearing in November, and in response to a question from MSP Shona Robinson on concerns raised by Lord Carloway of difficulties in hiring judges – Moi Ali said: “If a lawyer were put off by having to be open and transparent, that would raise questions about their suitability to be a member of the judiciary.”

Video Footage of this exchange can be found here:

Moi Ali - Judicial interests register will not deter judicial candidates - Justice Committee 19 November 2019

A full report on the Justice Committee evidence hearing with Moi Ali on 19 november 2019 can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Ex-Judicial Investigator responds to top judge’s claims a register of judges’ interests may affect judicial recruitment – “If a lawyer were put off by having to be open and transparent it does raise questions about their suitability to be members of the judiciary”

Earlier, in September 2013, and during the term of her office as Judicial Complaints Reviewer - Moi Ali gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee, and supported calls for the creation of a register of judicial interests. The hearing is reported in more detail along with video footage of the 2013 evidence session here: Judicial Complaints Reviewer tells MSPs judges should register their interests like others in public life.

EIGHT YEAR JUDICIAL INTERESTS PROBE:

The judicial register petition - first debated at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee in January 2013 – calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests.

A full debate on the proposal to require judges to declare their interests was held at the Scottish Parliament on 9 October 2014 - ending in a motion calling on the Scottish Government to create a register of judicial interests. The motion was overwhelmingly supported by MSPs from all political parties.

The lengthy Scottish Parliament probe on judicial interests has generated over sixty two submissions of evidence, at least twenty one Committee hearings, a private meeting and fifteen speeches by MSPs during a full Holyrood debate and has since been taken over by Holyrood’s Justice Committee after a recommendation to take the issue forward from the Public Petitions Committee in March 2018.

A full report containing video footage of every hearing, speech, and evidence sessions at the Scottish Parliament on Petition PE1458 can be found here: Scottish Parliament debates, speeches & evidence sessions on widely supported judicial transparency petition calling for a Register of Interests for Scotland's judiciary.

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has backed calls for further work on the judicial interests register during at least THREE further Holyrood hearings, including the latest hearing from June 2019, reported here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee to hear evidence from ex-Judicial Investigator, top judge on judicial interests register, MSP says Scottish judges should not be involved with Gulf States implicated in unlawful wars, mistreatment of women's rights

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in May 2019 can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee investigate approach to judges’ interests in other countries – MSPs say ‘Recusals register not comprehensive enough’ ‘Openness & transparency do not contradict independence of the judiciary’

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in February 2019 can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER - MSPs urged to take forward SEVEN year petition to create a Register of Judges’ Interests as Holyrood Justice Committee handed evidence of Scottish Judges serving in Gulf states regimes known to abuse Human Rights

TWO TOP SCOTS JUDGES FAIL IN HOLYROOD JUDICIAL TRANSPARENCY PROBE:

Both of Scotland’s recent top judges failed to convince MSPs that a register of interests is not required for judges – even after both Lord Presidents attempted to press home the existence of judicial oaths and ethics – which are both written, and approved by – judges.

Video footage and a full report on Lord Brian Gill giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament in November 2015 can be found here: JUDGE ANOTHER DAY: Sparks fly as top judge demands MSPs close investigation on judges’ secret wealth & interests - Petitions Committee Chief brands Lord Gill’s evidence as “passive aggression”

Video footage and a full report on Lord Carloway (Colin Sutherland) giving widely criticised evidence to the Scottish Parliament in July 2017 can be found here: REGISTER TO JUDGE: Lord Carloway criticised after he blasts Parliament probe on judicial transparency - Top judge says register of judges’ interests should only be created if judiciary discover scandal or corruption within their own ranks

Previous articles on the lack of transparency within Scotland’s judiciary, investigations by Diary of Injustice including reports from the media, and video footage of debates at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee can be found here : A Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary.

JUDICIAL REGISTER: Evidence to MSPs urges probe of Scots Judges in Gulf States - Scottish Parliament Justice Committee urged to move forward on EIGHT YEAR cross party backed petition to create a Register of judges’ interests

MSPs consider evidence on judicial register. THE Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee have been urged to progress a cross party backed eight year petition calling for the creation of a Register of judges’ interests Petition PE1458: Register of Interests for members of Scotland's judiciary

A submission of evidence from the petitioner - published by the Justice Committee – also reveals there are questions over the lack of recusals by Justices of the Peace – who were deliberately excluded from a Register of Recusals created in 2014 as a result of the Public Petitions Committee’s hearings on the petition.

Responding to an earlier letter from Scotland’s top judge – Lord Carloway - the petitioner highlighted the Lord President’s inability to address issues of Scottish judges serving in the Gulf States – a subject which drew harsh criticism from Justice Committee members at an earlier meeting – reported here: JUDGE THE JUDGES: Seven years, and one year on from petition passed to Justice Committee, questions on judicial conflicts of interest & Scots judges swearing dual judicial oaths in Gulf States - time to move forward on legislation for register of judges’ interests

An investigation by journalist Russell Findlay revealed Scottish judges were serving in Abu Dhabi & UAE courts - while serious Human Rights abuses were taking place against British citizens in the same countries.

The investigation also reveals how Scottish and UK judges are lured to the UAE, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar with big money salaries are available here: JUDGES FOR SALE: Special investigation into top lawmen being lured with big money jobs in Qatar and the UAE and here: Scottish judges slammed for being on payroll of oppressive regimes abroad

The letter from Scotland’s top judge – Lord Carloway (real name Colin Sutherland) to the Justice Committee – also revealed the Lord President had refused to appear before the Justice Committee to give evidence, and went on to demand he be told of any questions in advance before he even consider the issue.

Lord Carloway’s letter to MSPs was reported in further detail here: Scotland's top judge complains Holyrood judicial transparency probe prevents him recruiting judges - refuses Justice Committee invitation to give evidence in cross-party backed Eight year register of judges' interests investigation

Petition PE1458 Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary

Given the submission from Lord Carloway dated 23 August 2019 has only recently been published, I would like to name a number of observations in this submission to the Justice Committee.

I would observe Lord Carloway does not address important issues raised with the Justice Committee in relation to serving members of Scotland's judiciary holding judicial positions in the UAE and other States with poor Human Rights records.

Noting comments from member John Finnie MSP in relation to this matter, and the facts presented to the Committee in my previous submissions along with media coverage, I recommend members pursue this matter to the fullest extent, given this is a very clear issue where a register of judicial interests would, and should include such service - where members of Scotland's judiciary are swearing judicial oaths in countries condemned by rights organisations for multiple Human Rights abuses.

To address the remaining points in Lord Carloway's letter, the Justice Committee will be aware from previous work and evidence taken by the Public Petitions Committee that former Lord President refused at least two invitations to give evidence to MSPs, and only attended the Petitions Committee on November 2015, some six months after his retirement as Lord President.

Lord Carloway's evidence to the Public Petitions Committee took place on 29 June 2017. I would highlight my previous submission to the Petitions Committee of 4 September 2017  and media coverage provided to the Petitions Committee in relation to that hearing.

I feel it appropriate to request members of the Justice Committee watch the video coverage of Lord Carloway's evidence of 29 June 2017 to the Public Petitions Committee, and pay particular attention to Lord Carloway's responses to MSP Alex Neil - Lord Carloway evidence on Register of Judges interests Petitions Committee Scottish Parliament 29 June 2017

I note Lord Carloway states it is unfortunate this issue is being raised by the Justice Committee at a time during which he is seeking to recruit more members of the judiciary.

The statistics of Scotland's judiciary, often difficult to obtain and varying, depending on what the Judicial Office publish, indicate there are currently between 650 - 700 members of the judiciary in Scotland.

A handful of judges, around seven - are already required to declare their interests in the standing register of interests for the Scottish Courts & Tribunal Service Board.

The limited disclosure of the seven judges, and non-judicial members are included in the SCTS Annual report, published each year.

A further limited disclosure of financial shareholdings of SCTS Board members, is available via a Freedom of Information request, which I have submitted to the Justice Committee along with this written submission.

This leaves the bulk of Scotland's judiciary who are not declaring anything, no interests, no financial disclosures, nothing - other than a short biography for a select few judges.

As a result of this petition there is now a Register of Recusals - which has existed since April 2014 and now holds over 180 recusals of members of the judiciary and tribunal members - on varying grounds which in itself, does confirm and bolster the need for a full register of judicial interests.

There are however, problems with the Register of Recusals - as some recusals are not being made and some are not being listed. Notably, Lord Carloway's explanation to the Public Petitions Committee in regard to unpublished and omitted recusals should be looked at further.

I also ask Committee members to note - there is not one recusal from a Justice of the Peace in the entire Register of Recusals.

Given there are some 450 Justices of the Peace in Scotland, and taking into account the recusal statistics from other branches of the judiciary - from Sheriffs, to Court of Session Senators and Tribunal members, the lack of recusals from JPs are a matter of concern and should be investigated further.

I recommend members of the Justice Committee read my submission of 29 November 2017 to the Public Petitions Committee, which contains important information on the Register of Recusals.

On a further matter of judicial appointments to which Lord Carloway raises, I would recommend members of the Committee read published revelations in the book "Acid Attack" @acid_book by journalist Russell Findlay @RussellFindlay1

In one example of a judicial appointment, contained in the Acid Attack book, are substantiated references to Lord Carloway's appointment of a full-time sheriff - a year after the Sheriff's troubling conduct in relation to organised crime criminal clients.

I recommend the Justice Committee request evidence from journalist Russell Findlay, who has written extensively on matters related to the judiciary and justice issues in Scotland.

Of further note to the Justice Committee should be Lord Carloway's swift appointment of former Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland - direct from the position of Lord Advocate to the judicial bench, and a position as a Senator of the Court of Session.

Clearly, in anyone's mind - making a top prosecutor a top judge in an instant - creates the possibility of voluminous conflicts of interest - particularly in the instance of Mr Mulholland - who stood with Lord Carloway on the Scottish Government's move to remove the use of "corroboration" from Scots Law - the instance where evidence must be validated by two independent sources. It is of note the Justice Committee heard evidence from both Lord Carloway & former Lord Advocate Mulholland on this issue, and concluded it should not go ahead.

However, we are now in a situation where Scotland's former top prosecutor is a top judge. Clearly yet another example of why a register of judicial interests for all members of the judiciary - should exist.

I previously provided evidence to the Public Petitions Committee of the instance where, as members will be aware from media coverage - the Lord Advocate's wife - who is also a judge - was scheduled to hear a damages claim involving her husband - the Lord Advocate.

Clearly, a register of judicial interests for all members of the judiciary would help to inform litigants, court users, legal representatives and the public of such clear conflicts of interest, rather than leaving it to the last minute in a court hearing to realise the judge is related to one of those being sued in court.

I also recommend members of the Justice Committee read two fresh reports in relation to the petition's aim of creating a register of judicial interests, and - reports of Scottish judges serving in the UAE - which have been previously commented upon by Committee members prior to publication of these news reports on Scottish Television (STV), here: Judging for ourselves if conflict of interest in courts  and here Scots judges facing pressure to declare their interests

A 75 second Video report relevant to this petition, and information of interest to the Justice Committee can be found on STV Twitter feed here: STV News - Register of Judges Interests

This petition is now in its eighth year, and has been with the Justice Committee for over a year, after the Public Petitions Committee agreed to support the petition in May 2018 after six years of evidence.

The evidence accumulated by the Public Petitions Committee, and the hard work of MSP members past and present of the Public Petitions Committee is as fresh today as when it was taken during the PPC's extensive deliberations on this petition.

That work, including the evidence of all who gave it, and Public Petitions Committee members efforts to keep this issue alive, in the realisation members of the judiciary should declare their interests, and that there is no valid argument against a register of judicial interests, is to be commended, and therefore should be carried through to the creation of a register of interests for all members of Scotland's judiciary.

A list of evidence accumulated by the Public Petitions can be found on the Public Petitions Committee link here Public Petitions Committee - Register of Judicial Interests  and within the files of the Petitions Committee in relation to copies of media coverage & related issues brought to the attention of it's members.

Evidence gathered by the Public Petitions Committee includes:

Extensive written submissions of evidence (over 62 written submissions) across 25 hearings of the Public Petitions Committee,

Evidence from Cabinet Secretaries,

Evidence from one Lord President and one retired Lord President,

Key evidence from Scotland's first Judicial Complaints Reviewer Moi Ali, and supporting evidence from Judicial Complaints Reviewer Gillian Thompson.

Evidence from law academics,

A full debate which took place in the Scottish Parliament in October 2014 - which concluded with members from all parties supporting the petition,

Multiple media reports on the petition and reports in relation to the judiciary - including undeclared conflicts of interest -

And a clear public interest and public expectation of transparency in court in this petition being brought into legislation to enable court users, the public, legal representatives of litigants, the media and politicians to see that the judiciary is held to the same levels of transparency as all others in public life.

It is now time, after eight years - for the Scottish Parliament to move ahead with this volume of evidence, the vast majority of which supports bringing transparency to the judiciary, and create a register of interests for all members of Scotland's judiciary

Peter Cherbi, Petitioner PE1458

EIGHT YEAR JUDICIAL INTERESTS PROBE:

The judicial register petition - first debated at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee in January 2013 – calls for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests.

A full debate on the proposal to require judges to declare their interests was held at the Scottish Parliament on 9 October 2014 - ending in a motion calling on the Scottish Government to create a register of judicial interests. The motion was overwhelmingly supported by MSPs from all political parties.

The lengthy Scottish Parliament probe on judicial interests has generated over sixty two submissions of evidence, at least twenty one Committee hearings, a private meeting and fifteen speeches by MSPs during a full Holyrood debate and has since been taken over by Holyrood’s Justice Committee after a recommendation to take the issue forward from the Public Petitions Committee in March 2018.

A full report containing video footage of every hearing, speech, and evidence sessions at the Scottish Parliament on Petition PE1458 can be found here: Scottish Parliament debates, speeches & evidence sessions on widely supported judicial transparency petition calling for a Register of Interests for Scotland's judiciary.

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has backed calls for further work on the judicial interests register during at least THREE further Holyrood hearings, including the latest hearing from June 2019, reported here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee to hear evidence from ex-Judicial Investigator, top judge on judicial interests register, MSP says Scottish judges should not be involved with Gulf States implicated in unlawful wars, mistreatment of women's rights

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in May 2019 can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER: Justice Committee investigate approach to judges’ interests in other countries – MSPs say ‘Recusals register not comprehensive enough’ ‘Openness & transparency do not contradict independence of the judiciary’

A report on the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Judicial Interests Register Petition in February 2019 can be found here: JUDICIAL REGISTER - MSPs urged to take forward SEVEN year petition to create a Register of Judges’ Interests as Holyrood Justice Committee handed evidence of Scottish Judges serving in Gulf states regimes known to abuse Human Rights

TWO TOP SCOTS JUDGES FAIL IN HOLYROOD JUDICIAL TRANSPARENCY PROBE:

Both of Scotland’s recent top judges failed to convince MSPs that a register of interests is not required for judges – even after both Lord Presidents attempted to press home the existence of judicial oaths and ethics – which are both written, and approved by – judges.

Video footage and a full report on Lord Brian Gill giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament in November 2015 can be found here: JUDGE ANOTHER DAY: Sparks fly as top judge demands MSPs close investigation on judges’ secret wealth & interests - Petitions Committee Chief brands Lord Gill’s evidence as “passive aggression”

Video footage and a full report on Lord Carloway (Colin Sutherland) giving widely criticised evidence to the Scottish Parliament in July 2017 can be found here: REGISTER TO JUDGE: Lord Carloway criticised after he blasts Parliament probe on judicial transparency - Top judge says register of judges’ interests should only be created if judiciary discover scandal or corruption within their own ranks

Previous articles on the lack of transparency within Scotland’s judiciary, investigations by Diary of Injustice including reports from the media, and video footage of debates at the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee can be found here : A Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary.