Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including latest on grooming gangs row — Monday January 12

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots law and beyond includes the latest on the probe into remarks by Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance.

Report into Justice Secretary Angela Constance published

The minister had faced a no confidence vote before Christmas over remarks made about grooming gangs expert Professor Alexis Jay and the government's action on the issue.

The SNP minister was accused of misrepresenting Jay's position on public inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation and found to have breached the ministerial code.

However, the government's independent advisers found that the breaches were inadvertent and "without any deliberation or intention to mislead".

• Justice secretary found to have breached ministerial code (BBC)
• [£] Angela Constance broke ministerial code — but keeps her job (Times)
• [£] We need a fearless inquiry — but not into a minister's record (Times)
• John Swinney receives report into Angela Constance misconduct claims (Scotsman)
• Douglas Ross demands leak inquiry amid Angela Constance code breach (National)
• Scotland's Justice Secretary Angela Constance 'unintentionally' breached ministerial code, investigation finds (Sky)

Abolition of not proven verdict

Scotland’s third verdict was branded controversial during efforts to reform the criminal justice system and proposals to ditch it altogether ‘untested’.

But Parliament voted to abolish ‘not proven’ late last year and now the change has taken effect.

• We fought for 33 years to abolish not proven verdict after our daughter's murder (BBC)
• What will scrapping 'not proven' verdict change in Scottish courts? (National)
• Not proven...But Scotland is reforming jury trial anyway (Joshua Rozenberg)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

• Legal sector needs clarity on AI (Solicitors Journal)
• SNP ministers to be quizzed on 'AI use' in Sandie Peggie v NHS Fife ruling (Scotsman)
• Ash Regan suspended after Holyrood Code of Conduct ruling (Herald)
• 'Embarrassing for Scotland' Ash Regan suspended from Holyrood for two days for 'less serious' MSP rule break than Angela Constance (Scottish Daily Express)
• MSPs back urgent action and fee uplift to restore legal aid (Law Society of Scotland)
• Solicitor who said she worked 28 hours a day struck off (Irish Legal News)
• [£] Climate insurance legal action surges as property damage costs rise (Financial Times)
• I can’t access my father’s legacy after solicitors closed down (Guardian)
• UK law firms get ready for crackdown on money laundering (Guardian)