Ruth Charteris

The Right Honourable
Ruth Charteris
KC
Official portrait, 2026
Lord Advocate
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 June 2026
MonarchCharles III
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byDorothy Bain
Solicitor General for Scotland
In office
22 June 2021 – 19 June 2026
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Preceded byAlison Di Rollo
Succeeded byBrian Gill
Personal details
BornRuth Barbara Charteris
1973 (age 52–53)
Glasgow, Scotland
PartyIndependent
EducationUniversity of Glasgow
OccupationAdvocate
ProfessionLawyer

Ruth Barbara Charteris KC (born 1973) is a Scottish advocate who has served as Lord Advocate since June 2026. Charteris served as Solicitor General for Scotland from 2021 until her appointment as Lord Advocate in 2026, replacing Dorothy Bain KC. Brian Gill KC was appointed in June 2026 as Charteris’ deputy to succeed her as Solicitor General.[1][2]

Charteris is a legally qualified chair of the Scottish Social Services Council since 2017,[3] and has served as Chair of the Fitness to Practice Panel of the SSSC since 2017.[4]

Early life and education

Born in 1973 in Glasgow, Charteris studied at the University of Glasgow School of Law, where she gained an LLB (Hons) degree and a diploma in legal practice.[5]

Career

Charteris was admitted as an advocate in 2000 and came to the Bar on completion of her post as Legal Assistant to the Lord President of the Court of Session. Charteris served as an ad hoc Advocate Depute from 2010 to 2016. She served as a Standing Junior to the Scottish Government from 2012 and Second Standing Junior to the Scottish Government from 2016 to 2020.[6] After her appointment as Queen's Counsel, she served as a full-time Advocate Depute from 2020 until her appointment as Solicitor General.[7][8][9]

Scottish Social Services Council

Charteris has been a legally qualified chair of the Scottish Social Services Council since 2017.[10] She has been Chair of the Fitness to Practice Panel of the SSSC since 2017.[11]

Solicitor General, 2021–2026

Charteris alongside Dorothy Bain KC, following their appointment as Scotland's law officers at the Court of Session, June 2021

Appointment and Resignation

On 16 June 2021 the Scottish Government announced that Nicola Sturgeon had recommended Charteris to the Scottish Parliament for appointment as Solicitor General for Scotland by Elizabeth II.[12] Her nomination as Solicitor General was approved by the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2021.[13]

The appointment of Charteris as Solicitor General and Dorothy Bain KC as Lord Advocate marked the first time that both of Scotland's top law officers were both women.

On her elevated appointment to the office of Lord Advocate on 19 June 2026, she was succeeded in her role as Solicitor General by Brian Gill KC.

Duties

Charteris was selected as the annual speaker at the Annual Reflections Lecture at the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law event.[14] In 2023, as Solicitor General for Scotland, she was instructed by First Minister Humza Yousaf to "fully investigate" claims that the Scottish Government had not handed over WhatsApp communications and text messages which were exchanged between senior government officials during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, following claims made during the United Kingdom COVID-19 inquiry. Yousaf had claimed that it was his "understanding" that all messages required had been handed over.[15]

Lord Advocate, 2026–

It was announced on 16 June 2026 that John Swinney had nominated Charteris to be Lord Advocate, replacing Dorothy Bain who had announced that she was stepping down.[16] On her nomination, she issued a statement in which she publicly thanked the first minister, saying "I recognise the importance and the responsibility of this role and if I am appointed, it will be a great privilege to serve the people of Scotland".[17] On 19 June 2026, she was sworn in at Parliament House, Edinburgh.[18]

Her appointment to the position was overseen by the Lord President of the Court of Session, Lord Pentland, who said of Charteris upon her appointment "you take up your new role with great experience of leadership in our country’s prosecution service", whilst further claiming her "substantial knowledge of civil and public law will assist you as principal legal adviser to the Scottish Ministers".[19]

Personal life

She grew up as a Christian, and is a member of Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland in Glasgow, and a member of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Law Officer Appointments". The Scottish Government. 16 June 2026.
  2. ^ "Lord Justice General presides over Law Officers' installation". Judiciary of Scotland. 19 June 2026.
  3. ^ "Panel posts for Faculty twelve", Scottish Legal News, 22 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Ruth Charteris | Arnot Manderson Advocates". 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Ruth B Charteris", Faculty of Advocates [archived version, 3 August 2020]
  6. ^ "Ruth Charteris QC". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Ten new Queen’s Counsel named", Law Society of Scotland, 15 September 2020.
  8. ^ Merson, Adele. "Dorothy Bain QC nominated Scotland's new Lord Advocate". The Courier. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  9. ^ "New Silk Ruth Charteris QC in Crown Office Move", Arnot Manderson Advocates, 17 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Panel posts for Faculty twelve", Scottish Legal News, 22 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Ruth Charteris | Arnot Manderson Advocates". 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Women to hold Scotland’s top legal posts for first time", STV News, 16 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Sturgeon commits to examine splitting lord advocate dual role", Glasgow Herald, 17 June 2021
  14. ^ "Solicitor General to deliver Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law lecture". Scottish Legal. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf to 'fully investigate' concerns messages not handed to UK COVID Inquiry". sky.news.com. Sky News. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Law Officer Appointments". Scottish Government. 16 June 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  17. ^ "Law Officer Appointments". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  18. ^ "Lord Justice General presides over Law Officers' installation". Judiciary of Scotland. 19 June 2026.
  19. ^ "Lord Justice General presides over Law Officers". Judiciary.scot. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  20. ^ "Ruth Charteris Interests" (PDF). gov.scot.
  21. ^ "Solicitor General Ruth Charteris: 'I believe in justice'". Holyrood Website. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2026.

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