Public appointment: Members reappointed to the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans today announced the reappointment of Alex Quinn and Laura Reilly as Members of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission Board.

Members

Alex Quinn is a consultant forensic psychiatrist working in the NHS and based in The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. This is his second term working for the Commission.

Laura Reilly became a Solicitor once graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1983. She called at the Bar, becoming Counsel in 2006.

Reappointment

The reappointments will be for four years and will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2027.

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The reappointments are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £12,192 per financial year for a time commitment of 4 days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Dr Quinn and Ms Reilly do not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Dr Quinn and Ms Reilly have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission is a public body which was established in April 1999 by an Act of Parliament. 

The Commission’s role is to consider alleged miscarriages of justice and if, after proper investigation it believes that i) a miscarriage of justice may have occurred and ii) that it is in the interests of justice that a reference should be made, it may refer a case to the High Court for determination.