Thomas Dawson, Lord Dawson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cordner Dawson, Lord Dawson (14 November 1948 - 1 June 2007) was a Scottish lawyer. He was Solicitor General for Scotland
from 1992 until his appointment in 1995 as a Senator of the College of Justice
, a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland
, and held this post until his death in 2007.
and studied at the School of Law
of the Edinburgh University
. He lectured at the University of Dundee
from 1971 to 1974, and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1973, becoming Queen's Counsel
in 1986.
, and was counsel to the 1988 Piper Alpha
Inquiry. In 1992, he was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland
, the deputy of the Lord Advocate, succeeding Alan Rodger
, who was appointed to the superior post. In 1995, Dawson was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
, a judge of Scotland's Supreme Courts
with judicial title Lord Dawson. He was succeeded as Solicitor General by Donald Mackay
, who would only months later become Lord Advocate
.
A 2008 investigation by the Sunday Times found Dawson had the second highest rate of having his sentences or convictions overturned on appeal, with thirty successful appeals against sentence and three against conviction in the past five years. The judge with the most successful appeals was former Lord Advocate Lord Hardie
.
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
from 1992 until his appointment in 1995 as a Senator of the College of Justice
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
, a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, and held this post until his death in 2007.
Early life
Dawson was educated at the Royal High School of EdinburghRoyal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
and studied 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 Edinburgh University
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 lectured at the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
from 1971 to 1974, and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1973, becoming Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1986.
Legal career
Dawson practised as an Advocate Depute from 1983 to 1987, prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the Lord AdvocateLord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, and was counsel to the 1988 Piper Alpha
Piper Alpha
Piper Alpha was a North Sea oil production platform operated by Occidental Petroleum Ltd. The platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas production. An explosion and resulting fire destroyed it on 6 July 1988, killing 167 men, with only 61...
Inquiry. In 1992, he was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
, the deputy of the Lord Advocate, succeeding Alan Rodger
Alan Rodger, Baron Rodger of Earlsferry
Alan Ferguson Rodger, Baron Rodger of Earlsferry, FRSE, FBA, PC was a Scottish lawyer and Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom....
, who was appointed to the superior post. In 1995, Dawson was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
, a judge of Scotland's Supreme Courts
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
with judicial title Lord Dawson. He was succeeded as Solicitor General by Donald Mackay
Donald Mackay, Baron Mackay of Drumadoon
Donald Sage Mackay, Baron Mackay of Drumadoon, PC, QC is a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and a former Lord Advocate, the country's senior Law Officer. He is one of five additional Lords of Appeal in the House of Lords....
, who would only months later become Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
.
A 2008 investigation by the Sunday Times found Dawson had the second highest rate of having his sentences or convictions overturned on appeal, with thirty successful appeals against sentence and three against conviction in the past five years. The judge with the most successful appeals was former Lord Advocate Lord Hardie
Andrew Hardie, Baron Hardie
Andrew Rutherford Hardie, Baron Hardie, PC, QC is a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and a former Lord Advocate, the country's senior Law Officer...
.