header-logo header-logo

15 April 2020 / Lucy Williams , Matthew Hardcastle
Categories: Opinion , Profession , Regulatory
printer mail-detail

Train of thought: the Jackson-Salmond saga

•	© ROBERT PERRY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lucy Williams & Matthew Hardcastle assess the fallout & possible consequences of loose speech
  • Case confidentiality: a key concern.
  • Codes of conduct: honesty, integrity and independence.
  • Acting in a client’s best interests and regulatory duties.

Gordon Jackson QC is feeling the heat. Having secured a successful outcome for his client Alex Salmond (pictured) in a high profile trial in Scotland over allegations of sexual assault, Jackson resigned earlier this month as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates following reports that he had been caught discussing Mr Salmond, his complainants, and the case on a train journey. It has since emerged that a further complaint has been lodged against the embattled barrister by an attendee of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in November 2018 who says he heard the advocate openly describe victims as ‘moaning about their abuse’ while sitting in a public waiting area.  

These complaints are clearly for the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and possibly the Faculty of Advocates

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Womble Bond Dickinson—Paula Myers

Womble Bond Dickinson—Paula Myers

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Paula Myers to private capital team in Leeds

mfg Solicitors—five promotions

mfg Solicitors—five promotions

Law firm mfg Solicitors announces five promotions at Birmingham office

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners adds six to partnership in record year for partner promotions

NEWS
Calls to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 have been renewed, with the Bar Council arguing the current threshold criminalises children too early and risks pushing them towards lifelong offending
The legal profession's AI challenge extends far beyond fabricated case citations, according to a warning about the next phase of technological risk
Law firms should use the transition period before the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumes anti-money laundering (AML) supervision to strengthen governance and compliance, experts have warned
Cross-border disputes increasingly demand creative approaches to gathering evidence, with litigators needing to look beyond traditional letters of request
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified the distinction between contracts of 'indefinite' and 'perpetual' duration, with potentially significant implications for commercial drafting
back-to-top-scroll