Laureation Address: The Rt Hon Lady Dorrian PC KC FRSE
Laureation by Dr Mateja Peter, School of International Relations
Wednesday 3 December 2025 – morning ceremony
Vice-Chancellor, it is my privilege to present for the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the Right Honourable Lady Dorrian PC KC FRSE.
Lady Dorrian was born in Edinburgh and studied at the School of Law at the University of Aberdeen. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1981 and her career has truly been one of firsts – trailblazing a path for women in Scottish law.
In 1988, she was appointed by the Lord Advocate as the first female Advocate Depute, prosecuting the most serious criminal cases in the High Court of Justiciary, Scotland’s highest criminal court. She was one of only 12 senior prosecutors providing legal advice and helping to shape criminal policy in Scotland.
Lady Dorrian was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994. She was a Senator of the College of Justice from 2005 and became Lord Justice Clerk in April 2016.
Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland and, in over 700 years of the history of the office, Lady Dorrian was the first woman to hold the position. Her appointment was so unprecedented that the official letter installing her addressed her using male pronouns. She chose to retain the title Lord Justice Clerk to honour the long tradition of the office.
Throughout her distinguished career, Lady Dorrian presided over some of the most complex and high-profile cases in recent Scottish legal history, including issues surrounding the claim of Catholic midwives to refuse involvement in abortions, Scottish Government proposals for transgender self-identification, the Alex Salmond trial, and numerous litigations against Rangers Football Club.
She played a key role in developing sentencing guidelines for young adults, with a focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
Lady Dorrian has also been a mentor and advocacy trainer, both in Scotland and internationally. She currently serves as a trustee of The Slynn Foundation, working with senior judges and justice institutions to strengthen the rule of law worldwide. She is also Chair of the Scottish Arts Trust and has served as a trustee for several charitable organisations in the arts and education sectors.
After retiring from the office of Lord Justice Clerk in February 2025, Lady Dorrian quickly returned to public service. Since July, she has been serving as a Judicial Commissioner, supporting the Investigatory Powers Commissioner in reviewing the use of investigatory powers by public authorities, including intelligence agencies, police and local authorities.
Vice-Chancellor, in recognition of her major contribution to the field of law and her long, illustrious career as the most senior woman in Scottish legal history, I invite you to confer the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on Leeona June Dorrian, Lady Dorrian.