Stewart v Secretary of State for Scotland (Scotland): HL 22 Jan 1998

The dismissal of a Scottish Sheriff ‘for inability’ is not limited in meaning to either mental or physical infirmity, but can also include simple incompetence. The fact that the inquiry into the sherriff’s unfitness was conducted in private was not unfair.

Judges:

Lord Lloyd of Berwick, Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle, Lord Steyn, Lord Hutton, Lord Saville of Newdigate

Citations:

Times 28-Jan-1998, [1998] UKHL 3, 1998 SC (HL) 81

Links:

House of Lords, Bailii

Statutes:

Sherriffs Courts (Scotland) Act 1971

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Appeal fromStewart v Secretary of State for Scotland IHCS 1996
The House considered the test of unfitness of a Sherriff: ‘. . what has to be shown is that he is not really capable of performing the proper function of a judge at all.’ . .

Cited by:

CitedMeerabux v The Attorney General of Belize PC 23-Mar-2005
(Belize) The applicant complained at his removal as a justice of the Supreme Court, stating it was unconstitutional. The complaint had been decided by a member of the Bar Council which had also recommended his removal, and he said it had been . .
Appealed toStewart v Secretary of State for Scotland IHCS 1996
The House considered the test of unfitness of a Sherriff: ‘. . what has to be shown is that he is not really capable of performing the proper function of a judge at all.’ . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Administrative, Scotland, Legal Professions

Updated: 31 May 2022; Ref: scu.158934