A new chair of the Scottish Land Court has been nominated by the First Minister, on the recommendation of the independent Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

The nominee is Sheriff C Euan Duthie KC, a sheriff at Perth Sheriff Court who has been a KC (previously QC) for three years. He was appointed Standing Junior Counsel to the Advocate General in 2012, before becoming a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal in 2014. Sheriff Duthie is a graduate of the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh and is also the Scottish Editor of legal publication, Mithani: Directors’ Disqualification.

Sheriff Duthie’s appointment was made by His Majesty the King. He will start as chair of the Scottish Land Court on 9 January 2023, following the retirement of former Chair Lord Minginish in December 2022.

Ministers also appointed Sheriff Duthie as President of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland on the recommendation of the Lord President of the Court of Session.

The Scottish Land Court has the authority to resolve a range of disputes including disputes between landlords and tenants, in agriculture and crofting. The court is based in Edinburgh but holds hearings throughout Scotland.