News
5 September 2014
Chairing Member and Lay Member Reappointed to
the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice today announced the reappointments of Sir Muir
Russell as Chairing Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland and Dr
Michael Ewart as a Lay Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.
The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS) was set up in 2002 by the
Scottish Executive, in order to create more open and accessible arrangements for
judicial appointments in Scotland. It became a statutory advisory Non-Departmental
Public Body on 1 June 2009. JABS is an advisory body that plays a key role in
ensuring an open and transparent selection process based on merit. It makes
recommendations to the First Minister on applicants considered suitable for
appointment to the offices of Judge of the Court of Session, Sheriff Principal, Sheriff
and part-time Sheriff.
Sir Muir Russell was appointed as Chairing Member in 2008. He was Principal and
Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 2003 to 2009, prior to which he
was Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Executive. Sir Muir was born in 1949 and
was educated at the High School of Glasgow and Glasgow University, where he
obtained a first class honours degree in Natural Philosophy. Sir Muir is Chairman of
Trustees of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. He is a non-executive Director of
NHBC (the National House-Building Council) and Chairs its Scottish Committee. He
is a Vice-Chairman of the Governors of the Glasgow School of Art, a Member of the
Council of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Member of the Board of the Moredun
Research Institute, and Chairman of the Dunedin Concerts Trust. He was elected as
a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2000 and holds honorary degrees from
the Universities of Strathclyde, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Dr Michael Ewart was appointed as Lay Member in 2010. He joined the then
Scottish Office in 1977, where his career began in the Education Department. He
was the first Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service, the Head of the Scottish
Executive Education Department and retired as Chief Executive of the Scottish
Prison Service in November 2009. He is now Director of the Scottish International
Education Trust, a Board member and trustee of Phoenix Futures UK and Chair of
its Scottish Board. He is also a non-executive member of the Management Advisory
Board of Education Scotland.
Reappointments
These reappointments will be for two and four years, respectively.
The
reappointment of Sir Muir will run from 1 October, 2014 to 30 September, 2016 and
the reappointment of Dr Michael Ewart will run from 9 August, 2014 to 8 August,
2018.
Sir Muir’s reappointment attracts a remuneration of £17,500 per annum for a time
commitment of 50 days per year. Dr Michael Ewart’s reappointment attracts a
remuneration of £290 per day for a time commitment of 30 days per year.
Other Ministerial Appointments
Sir Muir Russell is the Chair for Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for which he
receives no remuneration for a time commitment of two days per month.
Dr Michael Ewart does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
These reappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in
Public Life in Scotland.
Political Activity
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the
selection process.
However, in accordance with the original Nolan
recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the
last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Sir Muir Russell and
Dr Michael Ewart have had no political activity in the last five years.