Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including Justice Secretary Angela Constance apology — Monday December 22

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots law and beyond includes the ongoing toils of Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance.

Angela Constance grooming gangs row continues to dominate news agenda

Justice Secretary Angela Constance is accused of misrepresenting the views of grooming gangs expert Prof Alexis Jay when she told parliament in September that the academic "did not support further inquiries" into child sexual abuse and exploitation. (BBC)

• Constance and expert quizzed by MSPs over grooming gangs row (BBC)
• Swinney ‘content’ Justice Secretary did not breach ministerial code (Independent)
• Justice secretary apologises to grooming gangs expert (BBC)
• Justice Secretary Angela Constance survives no confidence vote amid grooming gangs row (Sky)
• MSP told mum of grooming gang rape victim inquiry could make life more risky for young people (Daily Record)
• Russell Findlay: Angela Constance scandal shows the worst of the SNP (Holyrood magazine)
• The Herald cartoon on Angela Constance (The Herald)
• Angela Constance's position now 'untenable' after horror Holyrood showing (Daily Express)
• FMQs: Justice secretary criticised for conduct in grooming gangs row (BBC)

Former lawyer who claimed to be 'evil Jesus' guilty of murder plot to remain in secure unit

Martin Ready, 42, was found guilty of attempting to conspire to murder Darren Harty by using cryptocurrency to pay for a hitman on the dark web following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow last year. (BBC)

• Former lawyer guilty of murder plot to remain in secure unit (BBC)
• 'Evil Jesus' who plotted to kill prosecutor detained at secure mental health facility indefinitely (Sky)
• ‘Evil Jesus’ who plotted to kill prosecutor detained indefinitely (Cumnock Chronicle)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across Scotland, the UK and beyond:

• The Last Hollywood Gold Mine: Why the Fight for Warner Bros. Is a Bidding War (Hollywood Reporter)
• How many laws does Santa break in one night? (Legal Cheek)
• Former JD Sports employee awarded £65k after male boss sexually harassed her (BBC)
• Letters: What the media get wrong on the ECHR and ‘the right to family life’ (Guardian)
• [£] Murders, crooks and legal firsts — it’s the law festive quiz (The Times)
• Ex-City lawyer who quit after finishing TC amasses 1 million+ followers as a food influencer (Legal Cheek)
• FOI watchdog intervenes following 'serious' NHS Fife concern (Herald)
• [£] Scrapping juries would save less than 10% of court time, research shows (Financial Times)
• Plans for single AML regulator face backlash (Solicitors Journal)
• Hitman jailed for life over Edinburgh Hogmanay pub murder (BBC)
• Opt-out group proceedings: significant changes ahead for Scotland? (Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce)
• Shackled, alone and scared: the grim reality for women forced to give birth in prison (Guardian)
• [£] Christmas books: a gay reformer, Lady Hale on tour, dramas galore (The Times)
• [£] For Women Scotland goes after Scottish Government in wake of Supreme Court gender case (The Lawyer)
• Shoosmiths drops £1 million into bonus pot after staff hit AI prompt target (Legal Cheek)
• [£] UK plans to remove curbs on litigation funders to broaden access to justice (Financial Times)