Valerie Stacey, Lady Stacey
Encyclopedia
Valerie Elizabeth Stacey, Lady Stacey is a Scottish
lawyer, and a Senator of the College of Justice
, a judge of the country's Supreme Courts
. She was the first woman ever elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates
.
and studied at the School of Law
of the University of Edinburgh
. She worked as a solicitor from 1978 to 1986, and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1987. She married Andrew Stacey in 1981.
in 1996. In 1997, while still at the Home Office, she was appointed a Temporary Sheriff. She demitted both these offices in 1999, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
, returning to private practice. She was appointed a Special Advocate, having been vetted to work on certain cases. In 2004, she was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, the first woman ever elected to this post. She stood in the election for Dean of the Faculty in 2007, but was defeated by Richard Keen
QC. She was a member of the Sentencing Commission from 2003 to 2006, and of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
from 2005 to 2007. On 5 November 2008, it was announced she would be appointed to the Bench of the High Court of Justiciary
and Court of Session
, Scotland's Supreme Courts
, in succession to Lord McEwan, who retired. She took the judicial title, Lady Stacey.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
lawyer, and 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 country'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...
. She was the first woman ever elected Vice-Dean of 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...
.
Early life
Born Valerie Thom, she was educated at Elgin AcademyElgin Academy, Scotland
Elgin Academy is a secondary school in the city of Elgin, Moray, Scotland.-Admissions:Pupils at Elgin Academy are in years S1 to S6. Most arrive in first year from one of the nearby primary schools, which include Bishopmill Primary, West End Primary, East End Primary, Seafield Primary and St...
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 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...
. She worked as a solicitor from 1978 to 1986, 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 1987. She married Andrew Stacey in 1981.
Legal career
Stacey was appointed Advocate Depute in 1993, and Standing Junior Counsel to the Home OfficeHome Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
in 1996. In 1997, while still at the Home Office, she was appointed a Temporary Sheriff. She demitted both these offices in 1999, and was appointed 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...
, returning to private practice. She was appointed a Special Advocate, having been vetted to work on certain cases. In 2004, she was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, the first woman ever elected to this post. She stood in the election for Dean of the Faculty in 2007, but was defeated by Richard Keen
Richard Keen
Richard Sanderson Keen QC is a Scottish lawyer and Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.-Early life:Keen was educated at The King's School, Rochester and Dollar Academy, both prestigious independent schools, and studied at the School of Law of the University of Edinburgh, where he was a Beckman scholar...
QC. She was a member of the Sentencing Commission from 2003 to 2006, and of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland is public body responsible for making recommendations on appointments to judicial offices in Scotland...
from 2005 to 2007. On 5 November 2008, it was announced she would be appointed to the Bench of 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...
and Court of Session
Court 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 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...
, in succession to Lord McEwan, who retired. She took the judicial title, Lady Stacey.