Two Scots judges among New Year Honours awards

Two serving Scottish judges are among those recognised in the 2017 New Year Honours, both for services to the law other than their judicial duties.

Lord Mulholland, recently appointed to the Court of Session and High Court bench after serving five years as Lord Advocate (Frank Mulholland QC), and before that four years as Solicitor General following a career as a solicitor and solicitor advocate in the prosecution service, has been made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), for services to the law in Scotland.

In the same Order, Lord Kinclaven (formerly Sandy Wylie QC), has been awarded the OBE for services to the introduction of the Scottish legal system in schools. The honour recognises his role as founder of the Faculty of Advocates' MiniTrials, which for the past 15 years have been held in sheriff courts around Scotland, helping local school pupils learn about the law and legal system by having them act out jury trials. 

Also awarded the OBE is Elspeth MacDonald, formerly the Scottish Government's deputy director, Criminal Justice, for services to criminal justice.

Awards outside Scotland include CBEs for Robert Gilbert, chair of the Intellectual Property Office, for services to the legal profession and the economy, and for Anne Sharp, chief executive of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), for services to workplace relations.