James Wolffe: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(31 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Former Lord Advocate; 2016–2021}}
{{Other uses|James Wolf (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|James Wolf (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
Line 5: Line 6:
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = James Wolffe
| name = James Wolffe
| honorific-suffix = [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|PC]], [[King's Counsel|KC]] [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh|FRSE]] [[FSAScot]] [[Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland|FRIAS]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Queen's Counsel|QC]]
| image = James Wolffe 2016.jpg
| image = Lord Advocate James Wolffe (26789821493).jpg
| alt = photograph of James Wolffe, Lord Advocate
| caption = Official portrait, 2016
| caption = Wolffe before the Scottish Parliament in 2016
| office = [[Lord Advocate]]
| office = [[Lord Advocate]]
| term_start = 1 June 2016
| term_start = 1 June 2016
| term_end =
| term_end = 22 June 2021
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| firstminister = [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| firstminister = [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| predecessor = [[Frank Mulholland, Lord Mulholland|Frank Mulholland]]
| predecessor = [[Frank Mulholland, Lord Mulholland|Frank Mulholland]] [[King's Counsel|KC]]
| successor =
| successor = [[Dorothy Bain]] [[King's Counsel|KC]]
⚫
| deputy = [[Alison Di Rollo]]<br/><small>([[Solicitor General for Scotland|Solicitor General]])</small>
| office2 =
| office2 =
| term_start2 =
| term_start2 =
Line 24: Line 23:
| successor2 =
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|12|20|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|12|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Dumfries]], Scotland
| birth_place = [[Dumfries]], [[Scotland]]
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplace =
| birthname =
| birthname = Walter James Wolffe
| nationality =
| nationality = [[British citizenship]]
| spouse = [[Sarah P. L. Wolffe, Lady Wolffe|Lady Wolffe]]<ref>http://www.journalonline.co.uk/News/1013461.aspx#.WLMHJ2-GPIU</ref>
| spouse = [[Sarah P. L. Wolffe, Lady Wolffe|Lady Wolffe]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.journalonline.co.uk/News/1013461.aspx#.WLMHJ2-GPIU|title = Legal news}}</ref>
| party = None
| party = [[Independent politician| Independent]]
| children =
| children = 2 sons
| residence =
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[University of Edinburgh]]<br />[[Balliol College, Oxford]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Edinburgh]]<br />[[Balliol College, Oxford]]
| occupation = [[Faculty of Advocates|Advocate]]
| profession = [[Lawyer]]
⚫
| 1blankname = {{nowrap|[[Solicitor General for Scotland|Solicitor General]]}}
| 1namedata = [[Alison Di Rollo]] [[King's Counsel|KC]]
}}
}}

'''Walter James Wolffe''' {{postnominals|GBR|QC}} (born 20 December 1962) is a senior Scottish lawyer who has served as [[Lord Advocate]] since 1 June 2016. From 2014 to 2016 he was Dean of the [[Faculty of Advocates]], the professional body of the Scottish bar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-247296|title=Wolffe, (Walter) James,|work=Who's who and who was who|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2018|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.247296}}</ref><ref name="checkdirector.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.checkdirector.co.uk/director/walter-wolffe/|title=Walter James Wolffe, former director at Faculty Services Limited, Edinburgh|website=www.checkdirector.co.uk|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref>
'''Walter James Wolffe''' {{postnominals|GBR|PC KC|FRSE}} <small>[[FSAScot]]</small> <small>[[Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland|FRIAS]]</small> (born 20 December 1962) is a Scottish [[Faculty of Advocates|advocate]] who served as [[Lord Advocate]] from 2016 to 2021. He previously served as [[Dean of the Faculty of Advocates]] from 2014 to 2016, and [[Dean of the Faculty of Advocates|Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates]] from 2013 to 2014.<ref name="checkdirector.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.checkdirector.co.uk/director/walter-wolffe/|title=Walter James Wolffe, former director at Faculty Services Limited, Edinburgh|website=www.checkdirector.co.uk|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==

Wolffe was born in Dumfries on 20 December 1962 to Alexandra L. Graham and Antony C. Wolffe, [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]. He was educated at Gatehouse Primary School and then [[Kirkcudbright Academy]].<ref name="ednb-eve-news-2014-02-10" /> He studied at the [[University of Edinburgh]], graduating with an [[Bachelor of Laws|honours degree in law]] and a [[Diploma in Professional Legal Practice|diploma in legal practice]]. He then went on to [[Balliol College, Oxford]] to take a [[Bachelor of Civil Law]] degree.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="scotsman-2013-03-25" />
Walter James Wolffe was born on 20 December 1962 in [[Dumfries]] to Alexandra L. Graham and Antony Curtiss Wolffe [[Order of the British Empire|<small>MBE</small>]]. He attended [[Gatehouse of Fleet]] Primary School and then [[Kirkcudbright Academy]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-247296|title=Wolffe, (Walter) James|work=Who's who and who was who|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2018|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.247296|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}}</ref><ref name="ednb-eve-news-2014-02-10" /> Wolffe studied at the [[University of Edinburgh]], graduating with an [[Bachelor of Laws|honours degree in law]] and a [[Diploma in Professional Legal Practice|diploma in legal practice]]. He then went on to study at [[Balliol College, Oxford]] to take a [[Bachelor of Civil Law]] degree.<ref name="scotsman-2013-03-25" />


==Legal career==
==Legal career==
Wolffe was [[Faculty of Advocates|admitted as an advocate]] in 1992, then a [[Queen's Counsel]] (QC) in 2007. He served for three years as an [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service|Advocate Depute]] (prosecutor) at the [[High Court of Justiciary]].


=== Early career ===
He was elected as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2013<ref name="scotsman-2013-03-25" /> and [[Dean of the Faculty of Advocates]] in February 2014, replacing [[Richard Keen]].<ref name="advocates-announce-new-dean" /> Wolffe was the winner of an election involving four candidates, and the first Dean to be elected by an electronic vote.<ref name="ednb-eve-news-2014-02-10"/>


Wolffe trained as a solicitor at a commercial firm in Edinburgh. After qualifying, he worked as Legal Assistant to the [[Lord President of the Court of Session]]. After working for a year at [[Parliament House, Edinburgh|Parliament House]], Wolffe was [[Faculty of Advocates|admitted as an advocate]] in 1992. He served as First Standing Junior Counsel to the [[Scottish Government]] from 2002 to 2007. Wolffe [[took silk]] in 2007, earning the [[Post-nominal letters|post nominal]] of QC. He spent ten years practicing in commercial and public law, before serving as full-time prosecutor as [[Advocate-Depute|Advocate Depute]] at the [[High Court of Justiciary]] from 2007 to 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Make |date=2015-03-17 |title=James Wolffe QC |url=https://justice.org.uk/james-wolffe-qc/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=JUSTICE |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Walter JAMES Wolffe |url=https://www.advocates.org.uk/advocates/walter-james-wolffe |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.advocates.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
⚫
On 31 May 2016 the [[Scottish Government]] announced that [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Nicola Sturgeon]] had recommended Wolffe to the [[Scottish Parliament]] for appointment as [[Lord Advocate]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II|the Queen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Law-Officer-appointments-2513.aspx|title=Law Officer appointments|website=Scottish Government News|language=en|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref> His appointment was confirmed by the [[Scottish Parliament]] on 1 June 2016.<ref name="scotsman-law-off-2016-06-01" />


Wolffe has been instructed for cases at all levels, including the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]], the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]] and the [[European Court of Human Rights]]. He has been called to the bar of England & Wales in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |title=Walter JAMES Wolffe |url=https://www.advocates.org.uk/advocates/walter-james-wolffe |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.advocates.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
⚫
== Awards and Honours ==

In 2019 Wolffe was elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Society of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rse.org.uk/fellow/james-wolffe/|title=Rt Hon Walter James Wolffe QC FRSE|date=2019-03-15|website=The Royal Society of Edinburgh|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref>
=== Dean of the Faculty of Advocates; 2014 to 2016 ===

Wolffe was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2013. In February 2014, he was elected [[Dean of the Faculty of Advocates]], replacing [[Richard Keen]].<ref name="advocates-announce-new-dean" /> Wolffe was the winner of an election defeating [[Gordon Jackson (advocate)|Gordon Jackson]] QC, Andrew Smith QC and [[Alan Summers, Lord Summers|Alan Summers]] QC. 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."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alumnus, James Wolffe QC elected Dean of the Faculty of Advocates {{!}} Edinburgh Law School |url=https://www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/news/alumnus-james-wolffe-qc-elected-dean-faculty-advocates |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.law.ed.ac.uk}}</ref>

== Lord Advocate ==

⚫
On 31 May 2016 the [[Scottish Government]] announced that [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Nicola Sturgeon]] had recommended Wolffe to the [[Scottish Parliament]] for appointment as [[Lord Advocate]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II|the Queen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Law-Officer-appointments-2513.aspx|title=Law Officer appointments|website=Scottish Government News|language=en|access-date=2018-02-22|archive-date=1 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601124306/http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Law-Officer-appointments-2513.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> His appointment was confirmed by the [[Scottish Parliament]] on 1 June 2016.<ref name="scotsman-law-off-2016-06-01" />

In 2020, Wolffe informed the [[Scottish Government]] of his intention to step down as Scotland's Lord Advocate after the May [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]]. Prior to [[Nicola Sturgeon]]'s re-election as [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]], it was confirmed that both Wolffe and [[Solicitor General for Scotland|Solicitor General]] [[Alison Di Rollo]], would resign as Scotland's law officers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-23|title=Scotland's lord advocate and solicitor general resign|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-57221516|access-date=2021-05-23}}</ref>

⚫
== Awards and honours ==

Wolffe had the following awards and honours:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rse.org.uk/fellow/james-wolffe/|title=Rt Hon Walter James Wolffe QC FRSE|date=2019-03-15|website=The Royal Society of Edinburgh|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=James Wolffe QC {{!}} Brick Court Chambers |url=https://www.brickcourt.co.uk/our-people/profile/james-wolffe-qc |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.brickcourt.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rt Hon James Wolffe QC {{!}} Edinburgh Law School |url=https://www.law.ed.ac.uk/people/rt-hon-james-wolffe-qc |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.law.ed.ac.uk}}</ref>

* Member of the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]];
* Queen's Counsel (which became [[King's Counsel]] on 8 September 2022 upon the [[death of Queen Elizabeth II]] and the accession of King [[Charles III]]);
* [[Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh|Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh]];
* [[Order of the Thistle|Honorary LLD]], [[University of Glasgow|Glasgow University]];
* [[Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]];
* [[European Law Institute|Fellow of the European Law Institute]];
* [[Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland|Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland]];
* [[Honorary Bencher]], [[King's Inns, Dublin]]


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==

Wolffe married [[Sarah P. L. Wolffe, Lady Wolffe|Sarah Poyntell LaBudde]] in 1987 who uses the judicial title of Lady Wolffe as she is a [[Senator of the College of Justice]] in the [[Courts of Scotland|Supreme Courts of Scotland]]. They have two sons.<ref name=":0" />
Wolffe married [[Sarah P. L. Wolffe, Lady Wolffe|Sarah Poyntell LaBudde]], in 1987, a [[Senator of the College of Justice]] in the [[Courts of Scotland|Supreme Courts of Scotland]]. They have two sons.<ref name=":0" />


==References==
==References==
Line 95: Line 122:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


}}
}}

== External links ==
== External links ==

*[http://www.axiomadvocates.com/advocate/9/james_wolffe_qc/full-cv Wolffe's professional CV]
*[http://www.axiomadvocates.com/advocate/9/james_wolffe_qc/full-cv Wolffe's professional CV]


Line 102: Line 131:
{{s-legal}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Mulholland, Lord Mulholland|Frank Mulholland]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Mulholland, Lord Mulholland|Frank Mulholland]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lord Advocate]]|years=2016–present}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lord Advocate]]|years=2016–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dorothy Bain]]}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


Line 112: Line 141:
[[Category:People educated at Kirkcudbright Academy]]
[[Category:People educated at Kirkcudbright Academy]]
[[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh School of Law]]
[[Category:Lord Advocates]]
[[Category:Lord Advocates]]
[[Category:Scottish King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century King's Counsel]]


{{Scotland-law-bio-stub}}
{{Scotland-law-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 23:42, 15 March 2024

For other uses, see James Wolf (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable
James Wolffe
PC, KC FRSE FSAScot FRIAS
Official portrait, 2016
Lord Advocate
In office
1 June 2016 – 22 June 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Solicitor GeneralAlison Di Rollo KC
Preceded byFrank Mulholland KC
Succeeded byDorothy Bain KC
Personal details
Born
Walter James Wolffe

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

Walter James Wolffe FRSE FSAScot FRIAS (born 20 December 1962) is a Scottish advocate who served as Lord Advocate from 2016 to 2021. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 2014 to 2016, and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 2013 to 2014.[2]

Early life[edit]

Walter James Wolffe was born on 20 December 1962 in Dumfries to Alexandra L. Graham and Antony Curtiss Wolffe MBE. He attended Gatehouse of Fleet Primary School and then Kirkcudbright Academy.[3][4] Wolffe studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an honours degree in law and a diploma in legal practice. He then went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford to take a Bachelor of Civil Law degree.[5]

Legal career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Wolffe trained as a solicitor at a commercial firm in Edinburgh. After qualifying, he worked as Legal Assistant to the Lord President of the Court of Session. After working for a year at Parliament House, Wolffe was admitted as an advocate in 1992. He served as First Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government from 2002 to 2007. Wolffe took silk in 2007, earning the post nominal of QC. He spent ten years practicing in commercial and public law, before serving as full-time prosecutor as Advocate Depute at the High Court of Justiciary from 2007 to 2010.[6][7]

Wolffe has been instructed for cases at all levels, including the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the European 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[edit]

Wolffe was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2013. In February 2014, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, replacing Richard Keen.[9] Wolffe was the winner of an election defeating Gordon Jackson QC, Andrew Smith QC and Alan Summers QC. 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[edit]

On 31 May 2016 the Scottish Government announced that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had recommended Wolffe to the Scottish Parliament for appointment as Lord Advocate by the Queen.[11] His appointment was confirmed by the Scottish Parliament on 1 June 2016.[12]

In 2020, Wolffe informed the Scottish Government of his intention to step down as Scotland's Lord Advocate after the May 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Prior to Nicola Sturgeon's re-election as First Minister, it was confirmed that both Wolffe and Solicitor General Alison Di Rollo, would resign as Scotland's law officers.[13]

Awards and honours[edit]

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

Personal life[edit]

Wolffe married Sarah Poyntell LaBudde, in 1987, a Senator of the College of Justice in the Supreme Courts of Scotland. They have two sons.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Legal news".
  2. ^ "Walter James Wolffe, former director at Faculty Services Limited, Edinburgh". www.checkdirector.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b Wolffe, (Walter) James. Oxford University Press. 2018. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.247296. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ "James voted Dean of the Scottish Bar". Edinburgh Evening News. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  5. ^ Forsyth, John (25 March 2013). "James Wolffe QC on his new post as vice-dean of the Faculty of Advocates". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  6. ^ Post, Make (17 March 2015). "James Wolffe QC". JUSTICE. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  7. ^ Administrator. "Walter JAMES Wolffe". www.advocates.org.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  8. ^ Administrator. "Walter JAMES Wolffe". www.advocates.org.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  9. ^ "New Dean of Faculty announced". 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Alumnus, James Wolffe QC elected Dean of the Faculty of Advocates | Edinburgh Law School". www.law.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Law Officer appointments". Scottish Government News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Holyrood approves James Wolffe and Alison Di Rollo as top legal officers". The Scotsman. 1 June 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Scotland's lord advocate and solicitor general resign". BBC News. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Rt Hon Walter James Wolffe QC FRSE". The Royal Society of Edinburgh. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  15. ^ "James Wolffe QC | Brick Court Chambers". www.brickcourt.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Rt Hon James Wolffe QC | Edinburgh Law School". www.law.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2022.

External links[edit]

Legal offices
Preceded by Lord Advocate
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
Flag of ScotlandBiography icon

This Scottish law-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Wolffe&oldid=1213928020"