One of Scotland’s most senior judges, Lord Reed, will give a public lecture on the new human rights law, which is just about to be incorporated into Scots law, at the University of Aberdeen next week.
Lord Reed, an expert in human rights and European Law, will deliver the annual Ledingham Chalmers European Law Lecture - Taking Human Rights Seriously - at King’s College Conference Centre on Tuesday, May 11, at 6.30pm.
One of the major constitutional reforms of the Labour Government has been to enact a Bill of Rights for Britain, which draws on European standards. Lord Reed, as one of the senior judges in Scotland with a special interest in human rights, is uniquely placed to discuss the prospects for this crucial initiative.
Neil Walker, Professor of Legal and Constitutional Theory at the University, said that in this year of constitutional reform, none is more important than the enactment of a Bill of Rights, which will bind all public authorities, including the new Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive.
He added: “Previous lectures in the Ledingham Chalmers series have concentrated on one of the two great pillars of European law – the economic and social law that emanates from the European Union. This year’s will concentrate on the other great pillar – the human rights law that emanates from the Council of Europe and which has just been incorporated into Scots law.”
Former Advocate Depute, Robert Reed QC was appointed to the Scottish bench in September 1998, and is Britain’s youngest judge this century. Considered the most brilliant Scottish lawyer of his generation, he was a QC for just three years before being appointed to the bench. He also made an important contribution to the legal preparations for devolution. He will publish two books this year, Human Rights Law and Practice, and Human Rights in Scots Law.
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