Leading Scots lawyer dies after short illness

One of Scotland’s leading lawyers and criminal justice reformers has died in hospital after a short illness.

Sheriff Principal John McInnes was 72.

The former Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway was most recently a member of the Parole Board for Scotland.

As well as writing the key book on divorce in Scotland’s courts, he was hand-picked to lead a review of summary justice.

That review led to significant changes being implemented within the courts system in a bid to streamline justice and cut overheads and time-wasting.

He is survived by his wife Elisabeth. They had one son and one daughter.

Mrs McInnes said: “John was an amazing man who had a great sense of duty in terms of his work and responsibilities.

“Equally, he had a great sense of fun and enjoyed life to the full. He will be much missed by all the family.”

His 1990 textbook Divorce Law and Practice in Scotland was widely viewed as setting the standard in the field and established his reputation as one of the country’s finest legal minds.

He sat in judgment in a number of high-profile cases throughout his career and listed his hobbies as fishing, shooting, skiing and photography.