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James Wolffe

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The Right Honourable
James Wolffe
PC,KCFRSEFSAScotFRIAS
Official portrait, 2016
Lord Advocate
In office
1 June 2016 – 22 June 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Solicitor GeneralAlison Di RolloKC
Preceded byFrank MulhollandKC
Succeeded byDorothy BainKC
Personal details
Born
Walter James Wolffe

(1962-12-20)20 December 1962(age 61)
Dumfries,Scotland
NationalityBritish citizenship
Political partyIndependent
SpouseLady Wolffe[1]
Children2 sons
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
Balliol College, Oxford
OccupationAdvocate
ProfessionLawyer

Walter James WolffeFRSEFSAScotFRIAS(born 20 December 1962) is a Scottishadvocatewho served asLord Advocatefrom 2016 to 2021. He previously served asDean of the Faculty of Advocatesfrom 2014 to 2016, andVice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocatesfrom 2013 to 2014.[2]

Early life

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Walter James Wolffe was born on 20 December 1962 inDumfriesto Alexandra L. Graham and Antony Curtiss WolffeMBE.He attendedGatehouse of FleetPrimary School and thenKirkcudbright Academy.[3][4]Wolffe studied at theUniversity of Edinburgh,graduating with anhonours degree in lawand adiploma in legal practice.He then went on to study atBalliol College, Oxfordto take aBachelor of Civil Lawdegree.[5]

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Early career

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Wolffe trained as a solicitor at a commercial firm in Edinburgh. After qualifying, he worked as Legal Assistant to theLord President of the Court of Session.After working for a year atParliament House,Wolffe wasadmitted as an advocatein 1992. He served as First Standing Junior Counsel to theScottish Governmentfrom 2002 to 2007. Wolffetook silkin 2007, earning thepost nominalof QC. He spent ten years practicing in commercial and public law, before serving as full-time prosecutor asAdvocate Deputeat theHigh Court of Justiciaryfrom 2007 to 2010.[6][7]

Wolffe has been instructed for cases at all levels, including theSupreme Court of the United Kingdom,theJudicial Committee of the Privy Counciland theEuropean Court of Human Rights.He has been called to the bar of England & Wales in 2013.[8]

Dean of the Faculty of Advocates; 2014 to 2016

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Wolffe was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2013. In February 2014, he was electedDean of the Faculty of Advocates,replacingRichard Keen.[9]Wolffe was the winner of an election defeatingGordon JacksonQC, Andrew Smith QC andAlan SummersQC. Wolffe is the first Dean to be elected by an electronic vote. Following his election he responded: "It is a great honour to be elected by the Faculty as its Dean. The people of Scotland have been well served by the independent Bar throughout its existence. I look forward to leading the profession during the next chapter of its history."[10]

Lord Advocate

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On 31 May 2016 theScottish Governmentannounced thatFirst MinisterNicola Sturgeonhad recommended Wolffe to theScottish Parliamentfor appointment asLord Advocatebythe Queen.[11]His appointment was confirmed by theScottish Parliamenton 1 June 2016.[12]

In 2020, Wolffe informed theScottish Governmentof his intention to step down as Scotland's Lord Advocate after the May2021 Scottish Parliament election.Prior toNicola Sturgeon's re-election asFirst Minister,it was confirmed that both Wolffe andSolicitor GeneralAlison Di Rollo,would resign as Scotland's law officers.[13]

Awards and honours

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Wolffe had the following awards and honours:[14][15][16]

Personal life

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Wolffe marriedSarah Poyntell LaBudde,in 1987, aSenator of the College of Justicein theSupreme Courts of Scotland.They have two sons.[3]

References

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  1. ^"Legal news".
  2. ^"Walter James Wolffe, former director at Faculty Services Limited, Edinburgh".www.checkdirector.co.uk.Retrieved22 February2018.
  3. ^abWolffe, (Walter) James.Oxford University Press. 2018.doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.247296.ISBN978-0-19-954088-4.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  4. ^"James voted Dean of the Scottish Bar".Edinburgh Evening News.10 February 2014.Retrieved1 June2016.
  5. ^Forsyth, John (25 March 2013)."James Wolffe QC on his new post as vice-dean of the Faculty of Advocates".The Scotsman.Retrieved1 June2016.
  6. ^Post, Make (17 March 2015)."James Wolffe QC".JUSTICE.Retrieved27 July2022.
  7. ^Administrator."Walter JAMES Wolffe".www.advocates.org.uk.Retrieved27 July2022.
  8. ^Administrator."Walter JAMES Wolffe".www.advocates.org.uk.Retrieved27 July2022.
  9. ^"New Dean of Faculty announced".4 February 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2014.
  10. ^"Alumnus, James Wolffe QC elected Dean of the Faculty of Advocates | Edinburgh Law School".www.law.ed.ac.uk.Retrieved27 July2022.
  11. ^"Law Officer appointments".Scottish Government News.Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2016.Retrieved22 February2018.
  12. ^"Holyrood approves James Wolffe and Alison Di Rollo as top legal officers".The Scotsman.1 June 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2016.Retrieved5 June2016.
  13. ^"Scotland's lord advocate and solicitor general resign".BBC News.23 May 2021.Retrieved23 May2021.
  14. ^"Rt Hon Walter James Wolffe QC FRSE".The Royal Society of Edinburgh.15 March 2019.Retrieved15 March2019.
  15. ^"James Wolffe QC | Brick Court Chambers".www.brickcourt.co.uk.Retrieved27 July2022.
  16. ^"Rt Hon James Wolffe QC | Edinburgh Law School".www.law.ed.ac.uk.Retrieved27 July2022.
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Preceded by Lord Advocate
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
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