Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown has been appointed to the Costs and Funding Committee in place of Sheriff Hughes.Sheriff Martin-Brown was appointed as a sheriff in Dundee in 2019, having served as a summary sheriff since 2016. A graduate of the University of Aberdeen, she was a solicitor in private practice for six years and an advocate for six years. As a solicitor, she represented the Scottish Prison Service at Fatal Accident Inquiries throughout Scotland. At the Bar, she developed particular expertise in the fields of personal injury and medical negligence. She was appointed as Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government and served as an ad-hoc Advocate Depute. As a summary sheriff, she had particular responsibility for the Problem Solving Court in Forfar. She was appointed as a commercial sheriff in 2020.
Sheriff Principal Catherine (Kate) Dowdalls has been appointed to the Family Law Committee in place of Sheriff Principal Pyle.
Sheriff Principal Dowdalls practised as a solicitor, becoming a partner in a Stirling firm in 1991, before being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 2000 and taking silk in 2013. A specialist in family law, she has also represented parties in fatal accident inquiries and has been a core participant in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. Since 2018 she has been a Scottish Law Commissioner, leading the Aspects of Family Law project.
Both appointments will run until July 2026.
The SCJC welcomes feedback on any aspect of court rules. Please email your comments to the Secretariat.