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

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs today announced the reappointments of Jacqueline Fordyce and Gillian Mawdsley as Members of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission Board.

Members

Jacqueline Fordyce is an Advocate who called to the Bar in 2016, having previously practised as a litigation solicitor in Edinburgh. She was first appointed as a Legal Member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2021, and as a Legal Member of the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security Chamber) in 2024. She has previously assisted the senior judiciary in respect of domestic and international criminal appeals as a law clerk in the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland and a visiting professional in the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. She is also a contributing editor of The Laws of Scotland: Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia, a reporter for Session Cases law reports, and a board member of The Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland.

Gillian Mawdsley is a Scottish qualified solicitor who has worked predominantly and extensively in the policy and criminal justice fields. This experience includes Scottish Government, COPFS, SCTS, SLAB, the Judicial Institute for Scotland and the Law Society of Scotland. These have provided her with a detailed understanding of how the Scottish justice system operates.

Her work now focuses mainly on academic teaching at the Open University as well as at Edinburgh University on a range of legal subjects that includes criminal law, pro bono project work and vicarious trauma. She writes academically on criminal, medical/egal issues legal history and fatal accident inquiries. 

Reappointment

These reappointments will be for 4 years and will run from 1 July 2025 to the 30 June 2029.

This reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

These reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of up to a maximum total fee of £12,192 per financial year for a time commitment between 3 and 4 days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Jacquline Fordyce is a Legal Member of the First-Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Social Security Chamber), for which she receives remuneration of £496.66 per day, for a time commitment of between 10 and 30 days per year.

Gillian Mawdsley is a Non-Executive Member at NHS Education for Scotland for which she receives £9000 per annum, for a time commitment of 4 days a month. She is also a Lay Member of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards for which she receives £100 per day. There is no specific time commitment for the appointment as it is only when required.

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.   

Jacqueline Fordyce and Gillian Mawdsley have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Board of the Commission is responsible for the overall strategic direction and performance of the Commission, and is ultimately responsible for determining whether or not to refer cases to the High Court. The Board Members, alongside the Chief Executive of the Commission, are collectively responsible for ensuring appropriate use of public funds.

The Commission currently operates with a Board of 9 Members, one of whom is the Chairperson. All appointments are made by Royal Warrant on the advice of Scottish Ministers and in line with the Code of Practice issued by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.