Neil Walker (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Neil Craig Walker, FRSE, (born 5 July 1960) is a Scottish lawyer and Regius Professor
of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the School of Law
of the University of Edinburgh
. He has recently completed a review for the Scottish Government into the final appellate jurisdiction of the Scottish legal system.
of the University of Strathclyde
, graduating with a First class LL.B.
in 1981. He taught Public Law at the University of Edinburgh from 1986 to 1996, obtaining a Ph.D.
from the University of Strathclyde's Department of Human Resource Management, entitled Police culture and organisation, in 1991.
of the University of Aberdeen
, and in 2000 moved to the European University Institute
in Florence
, where he was Professor of European Law, and served as Dean of Studies from 2002 to 2005. In 2008, he returned to Edinburgh as Professor of Public Policy and the Law of Nature and Nations, succeeding Sir Neil MacCormick
. His research interests lie mainly in constitutional theory, as well as the relationship between security, legal order and political community.
He has also held a number of visiting appointments, including as Visiting Professor in the Department of Philosophy, University of Tilburg, in 2000; Visiting Professor of Law at Columbia Law School
, Columbia University
in 2005; Eugene Einaudi Chair of European Studies, Law School
of Cornell University in 2007; and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, University of Toronto
Faculty of Law
, in 2007.
, Scotland's highest civil court, to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
, but not from the High Court of Justiciary
, which remains the highest criminal court. The review covers both the civil and criminal jurisdictions. Professor Walker completed his report in November 2009.
Regius Professor
Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships at the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland - namely Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin. Each of the chairs was created by a monarch, and each appointment, save those at Dublin, is approved by the...
of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the School of Law
University of Edinburgh School of Law
The University of Edinburgh School of Law, founded in 1707, is a school within the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, dedicated to research and teaching in law. Known today as Edinburgh Law School, it is located in the historic Old College, the original site of the University...
of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He has recently completed a review for the Scottish Government into the final appellate jurisdiction of the Scottish legal system.
Early life
Neil Walker studied at the School of LawStrathclyde Law School
Strathclyde Law School was established in 1964 and operates within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland....
of the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, graduating with a First class LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1981. He taught Public Law at the University of Edinburgh from 1986 to 1996, obtaining a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Strathclyde's Department of Human Resource Management, entitled Police culture and organisation, in 1991.
Career
In 1996, he was appointed Professor of Legal and Constitutional Theory at the School of LawUniversity of Aberdeen School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Aberdeen dates back to the University's foundation in 1495. Today, it is one of the largest law schools in Scotland, admitting some two hundred and fifty students each year, as well as over forty international exchange students...
of the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, and in 2000 moved to the European University Institute
European University Institute
The European University Institute ' in Florence is an international postgraduate and post-doctoral teaching and research institute established by European Union member states to contribute to cultural and scientific development in the social sciences, in a European perspective...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, where he was Professor of European Law, and served as Dean of Studies from 2002 to 2005. In 2008, he returned to Edinburgh as Professor of Public Policy and the Law of Nature and Nations, succeeding Sir Neil MacCormick
Neil MacCormick
Sir Neil MacCormick, QC, FBA, FRSE , or just Neil MacCormick, was a legal philosopher and Scottish politician. He was Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh from 1972 until 2008...
. His research interests lie mainly in constitutional theory, as well as the relationship between security, legal order and political community.
He has also held a number of visiting appointments, including as Visiting Professor in the Department of Philosophy, University of Tilburg, in 2000; Visiting Professor of Law at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 2005; Eugene Einaudi Chair of European Studies, Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
of Cornell University in 2007; and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
Faculty of Law
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Established in 1887, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law is one of the oldest professional faculties at the University of Toronto. The Faculty of Law is particularly renowned in the areas of corporate law, international law, law and economics, and legal theory.The law school has been...
, in 2007.
Review of Appelate Jurisdiction
On 15 December 2008, the Scottish Government announced Professor Walker had been appointed to conduct a review of final appellate jurisdiction in the Scottish legal system. Under current arrangements, it is possible to appeal from the Court of SessionCourt of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
, Scotland's highest civil court, to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
, but not from the High Court of Justiciary
High Court of Justiciary
The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...
, which remains the highest criminal court. The review covers both the civil and criminal jurisdictions. Professor Walker completed his report in November 2009.