Morag Wise, Lady Wise Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
Lady Wise
Honorific-Suffix:PC
Office:Senator of the College of Justice
Term Start:2013
Nominator:Alex Salmond
As First Minister
Appointer:Elizabeth II
Office2:President of the Scottish Tribunals
Term Start2:1 May 2023
Appointer2:Lord Carloway
As Lord President
Predecessor2:Lord Woolman
Birth Date:22 January 1963 [1]
Birth Place:Scotland
Alma Mater:University of Aberdeen
McGill University
Profession:Advocate
Website:Judiciary of Scotland

Morag Barbara Wise, Lady Wise, (born 22 January 1963) is the President of the Scottish Tribunals and a Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the Scotland's Supreme Courts.

Early life and education

Wise was born on 11 January 1963 to Barbara (née Gillies) and Leslie James Wise.

She studied law at the University of Aberdeen graduating in 1985 with an LLB with first class honours, followed in 1986 with a Diploma in Legal Practice. In 1995, she received her LL.M. from McGill University, Montreal.[2]

Legal career

Wise became a solicitor in 1989 and joined Morton Fraser LLP. In 1993, she was called to the bar, joining Westwater Advocates, and specialised in family law.[2] Wise became a Queen's Counsel in 2005, and was appointed a Temporary Judge of the Court of Session in 2008. On 6 February 2013, she was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice, taking the judicial title Lady Wise.[3]

In 2005, Wise became a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the Faculty of Advocates[4] She became chair of the Advocates' Family Law Association in 2007, having served as vice chair since 2000.[5]

On 7 December 2021, it was announced that Wise had been appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session with effect from 5 January 2022.[6] She was sworn of Her Majesty's Privy Council on 12 April 2022 allowing her the honorific The Right Honourable.[7]

On 5 April 2023, she was appointed President of Scottish Tribunals, succeeding Lord Woolman.[8]

Publications and honours

Wise has contributed to several editions of the legal works The Law of Scotland by Gloag and Henderson and A Practical Guide to Human Rights Law in Scotland edited by Lord Reed.

In 2015, Wise received an Honorary LLD from the University of Aberdeen.

Personal life

In 1994, Wise married Alastair McEwan with whom she has two daughters and one son.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Search results .
  2. Web site: Morag B. Wise, Q.C. . Faculty of Advocates . 9 February 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402191816/http://www.advocates.org.uk/stables/advocates/00000530.html . dead . 2 April 2012.
  3. http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/rolls/supreme/lists/r130131_108.htm Roll of the Court of Session for 31 January 2013
  4. Web site: College of Justice . Scottish Government . 22 January 2013 . 9 February 2013.
  5. Web site: Morag Wise QC . Chambers and Partners . 9 February 2013 . https://archive.today/20130407215929/http://www.chambersandpartners.com/uk-bar/Firms/99999999-73388/211628 . dead . 7 April 2013.
  6. Web site: Three Judges appointed to the Inner House . Judiciary of Scotland . 7 December 2021 . 7 December 2021.
  7. Web site: Court Circular 12 April 2022 . 12 April 2022.
  8. Web site: New President of the Scottish Tribunals . 2023-08-01 . www.scotcourts.gov.uk.