Gordon Jackson (advocate)

William Gordon Jackson QC (born 5 August 1948) is a senior Scottish lawyer who served as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 2016 until 2020. From 1999 to 2007 he was a Scottish Labour Party Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Govan.

Gordon Jackson

QC
Jackson pictured at the SECC giving his candidate speech after losing the Glasgow Govan seat to Nicola Sturgeon.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Govan
In office
6 May 1999 – 2 April 2007
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byNicola Sturgeon
Personal details
Born
William Gordon Jackson

(1948-08-05) 5 August 1948
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)Anne Stevely
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews
ProfessionAdvocate

Early life

Jackson was educated at Ardrossan Academy and studied Law at the University of St Andrews. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1979 and served as an Advocate Depute from 1987 to 1990. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales (Lincoln's Inn) in 1979, and appointed Queen's Counsel in Scotland in 1990.

Political career

Jackson was elected to the Scottish Parliament in the 1999 election representing Glasgow Govan. While serving as a member, he continued to undertake work at the Bar, provoking criticism in some quarters. He was reputedly nicknamed "Crackerjack", for repeatedly arriving at Parliament just before the 5 pm vote; the name was a reference to the children's programme, Crackerjack, which famously started at 4:55 pm.[1] He was defeated in the 2007 election by then-Scottish National Party Depute Leader Nicola Sturgeon.

Jackson continues to practise at the Scottish Bar. At one time he was tipped to become a Senator of the College of Justice by the Sunday Herald.[2]

In 2016 he became Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.[3] He was the lead defence counsel in the trial of Alex Salmond, who was acquitted of all charges.[4] On 3 April 2020 Jackson announced his intention to resign as Dean of Faculty with effect from 30 June 2020 at the latest.[5] This followed reports that Jackson had self-reported himself to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission after footage of him was published in which he appeared to name two of the women who alleged sexual assaults by Alex Salmond, in contravention of rules that protect the anonymity of complainers.[6]

Personal life

Jackson married Anne Stevely in 1972, with whom he has a son and two daughters. He is an Honorary Vice-President of English-Speaking Union Scotland.

References
  1. "Two jobs MSP vows to give up law". BBC News Online. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  2. "Male, white, middle class, privately educated, Edinburgh resident, New Club member ... is it time to change the face of the Scottish judiciary?". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  3. "Office-bearers". www.advocates.org.uk.
  4. "Alex Salmond accused of sexual assaults on 10 women". BBC News. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  5. "Statement of Gordon Jackson QC". Faculty of Advocates. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. "Alex Salmond's QC to be investigated 'after naming trial women'". Guardian. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
Scottish Parliament
New constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Govan
1999–2007		 Succeeded by
Nicola Sturgeon
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