Colin Sutherland, Lord Carloway
Colin John MacLean Sutherland, Lord Carloway PC FRSE is a Scottish advocate and judge who served as the Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General from 2015 until his retirement in February 2025. He was previously Lord Justice Clerk from 2012 to 2015 and was a Senator of the College of Justice from February 2000 until his retirement. On 4 June 2024, Lord Carloway announced his intention to retire from judicial office in early 2025.
Born in Falkirk, Lord Carloway studied at the University of Edinburgh's Law School, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws. In 1977, he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates and served as an Advocate Depute in the late 1980s. Before being nominated as a Judge in 2000, he served as the Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates. As a Senator of the College of Justice he presided over the 2004 prosecution of gas transporter Transco and published the Carloway Review. In 2012, Lord Gill, who had served as the Lord Justice Clerk, was appointed the Lord President and Lord Carloway succeeded him.
Following the retirement of Lord Gill, Lord Carloway was nominated by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to succeed him. He was officially appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 December 2015, becoming the most senior judge in Scotland.
Early life
Colin John MacLean Sutherland was born, on 20 May 1954, in Falkirk. He was educated at Hurst Grange Preparatory School in Stirling and the Edinburgh Academy, before studying at the School of Law of the University of Edinburgh.Career
As advocate
Sutherland was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1977, and appointed Advocate Depute in 1986, serving until 1989. He became Queen's Counsel in 1990 and was Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates from 1994 to 2000.As Judge
In the Court of Session 2000 onwards
Sutherland was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary, Scotland's Supreme Courts, in February 2000. He took the judicial title, Lord Carloway, and was promoted to the Inner House of the Court of Session and appointed to the Privy Council in 2008.Lord Carloway presided over the 2004 prosecution of gas transporter Transco under health and safety legislation for an explosion in Larkhall in December 1999 which killed a family of four, fining the company a record £15m. After 2008 he was almost exclusively involved in appellate work as a member of the Second Division, one of the two appeal court chambers in Scotland, chaired by the Lord Justice Clerk.
Lord Justice Clerk 2012–2015
Lord Carloway was appointed Lord Justice Clerk on 15 August 2012.Lord President and Lord Justice General 2015–2025
Lord Carloway's appointment as Lord President and Lord Justice General was announced on 18 December 2015. He stepped down from the post on 3 February 2025.In December 2022, as Lord President of the Court of Session, Lord Carloway unveiled a plaque commemorating the 1778 Knight v. Wedderburn case, which ruled that slavery was incompatible with Scots law.