The good thing about limiting logins and Ghost Bans is that it continues to remind us to have many voices and outlets rather than rely on the whim of, or a failure in the works of an X .. 😆

welcome return of glorious Scottish rain to Scotland 🌧️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 should help put out the wildfires in the north & help our gardens [and refresh our mint] too 🌿🌱

A lovely display of Noctilucent clouds tonight over southern Scotland this Sunday evening 26th July .. 🌃

The then Lord President Brian Gill's recusal due to his Advocate legal rep. son appearing for litigants in his court, was listed in the Recusals Register as a 'relative' of Lord Gill in 2014 Lord Brian Gill's recusal featured in short news coverage with more specific info here ⬇️

Weeks after top judge Lord Brian Gill created a register of judicial recusals - in response to Scottish Parliament Petition PE1458 to create a register of judges' interests Lord Brian Gill snr had to recuse from a case because his son (new SG) Brian J Gill rep'd litigants in his father's court

First Minister John Swinney announces current Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC as new Lord Advocate to replace outgoing LA Dorothy Bain & Brian J Gill KC (son of Scotland's former top judge & Lord President Brian Gill) as the new Solicitor General www.gov.scot/news/law-off...

There is a 'consultation' underway by the Southside Data Centre who are 'keen' to engage with the community on their plan to [monster up] build an environment-sucking data centre west of Duns between Longformacus and Westruther anyone interested .. do attend! www.southsidedc.com/public-exhib...

no surprise at the lack of prosecutions - as you say - UK wont prosecute bankers - & also noting Goodwin was backed by the Law Society of Scotland CEO at the time - who blamed 'poor regulation' (he'd know about that ofc) and said we shouldnt scapegoat Fred the shred ..😏

Now they published it, here is the 2024-2025 international trips by members of Scotland's judiciary - interesting set of costs & destinations 🔍 Increased judicial transparency is good (& detailed recusals register) & a register of judges' interests to follow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🧑‍⚖️ www.judiciary.scot/home/judicia...

Interesting dev. re Judicial Transparency in Scotland Judges' international travel costs & claims, & expenses claims had not been updated since 2024 & judicial expenses since Sept '23 🧑‍⚖️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🔍 so I requested info via FOI yesterday & today - trips for 24-25 appear 📜 www.judiciary.scot/home/judicia...

The 2021/2 - 2026 combined Freedom of Information disclosures from Scottish Govt on their 2021 commitment to create a register interests for Scots judges Five years of work, FOI & redactions yet still no judicial register in 2026 .. FOI docs here drive.google.com/file/d/1iThf...

[Latest] Redacted Freedom of Information docs from Scottish Govt on work to create a register of judges' interests - - contain ref to how judicial register can be intro'd - either by Lord President or primary legislation via Scottish Parliament FOI release here drive.google.com/file/d/16S55...

Updating work of Scottish govt judicial interests register to 2025 - response to question from Liam Kerr MSP revealed "more detailed declaration requirements for judicial office holders" & 'evaluation' of work - as of 2026 Justice Committee yet to hear more www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...

Judges fought against Petition PE1458 & judicial register, however info gained on interests show need for judicial transparency Lord Carloway - We cant have judges declaring our relatives interests because MSPs don't need to Holyrood MSPs - actually we do have to register what close relatives do

Holyrood hearings - Convener: "There are registers of interests for ministers, for MSPs, for MPs, if that is good enough for politicians, why is it not good enough for the judiciary?" Moi Ali: "I agree with that. In the 21st century, pretty much everyone is expected to register their interests"

For 11 March hearing, as petitioner I sent letter & FOI papers to Justice Committee for consideration & to request Petition PE1458 be kept open until Scottish Govt produce evidence to MSPs the judicial interests register is to go ahead, & give us chance to view/comment on their work

Petition PE1458 last heard at Justice Committee 26 Jan '22 After debate, Convener stated - "As members have commented, we seek further clarity on the plan to take the matter forward and we will write to the cabinet secretary for details on progress and a further update on timescales."

Wed. 11 March Meeting of Holyrood Criminal Justice Committee will see consideration of Petition PE1458 - creating a register of interests for Scots judges Scottish Gov & First Minister committed to create a judicial register in 2021 but have yet to implement it www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...

btw if you are interested in what happens to judges who are in office while illegal spying goes on - they get jobs at spy agency regulators After Lord Gill's 3 years as Lord President - UK Govt sneaked him over the border & gave him a job as a Judicial Surveillance Commissioner - to watch over us😅

Yes, an FOI with only £5,600 to MI5 from Police Scotland for 'training' - yet publishing led to info flow on why some in gov felt cops couldn't be trusted with surveillance, so outside ex-cops brought in to snoop on just about everyone, incl journos Funnily enuff a judge set in motion our scrutiny

Back to the Caldwell case - The Legal cover sought by Lord Advocate & Police Scotland from judiciary on bugging media (sources said also snooping on their own cops too) Note judges mentioned in FOI doc - Lord Bonomy, Lord 'Mclean' listed or Maclean? & Lord President (Lord Brian Gill at the time) ⬇️

Timely thread of how Police Scotland & Crown Office [in Caldwell case + others] enjoy cosy relationship with Scotland's judiciary on snooping cases 👮🤝👨‍⚖️ - & how rules can & are broken to deploy physical/electronic surveillance on journalists, critics, whistleblowers & anyone else

When Politics, PR & legal figures collide in conflicts of interest over who writes, prints & controls the news, the truth & public opinion - in Scotland. Worth a read to understand current events, headlines & those involved - from the Way-back machine link directly. web.archive.org/web/20100327...

Also, worthwhile posting FM Alex Salmond's actual reply to the then Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson on his acceptance of her suggestion that [Alex Salmond's own lawyer] Sheriff Peter Black Watson - be on the Salmond Leveson Press Censorship group 'tis good I asked for these FOIs at the time .. 😇

and in the interests of completeness, the announcement which appeared on the Judiciary of Scotland's website from the then Lord President Lord Brian Gill - on the suspension of Sheriff Peter Watson (who was also Alex Salmond's lawyer)

Also re Ruth Davidson & Scots Tories ex Sheriff Peter Watson 'built up international reputation' - Watson was later suspended by Top Judge Brian Gill re writ linked to Heather Capital FOI disclosure revealed Scottish Tories keen to promote Watson for Alex Salmond Leveson Press censorship group

Looks like a pro-industry shift by Federal judiciary on fossil fuels, mirrors a move in Scotland (2015) - While a Govt minister announced moratorium on fracking, Scots top judge said courts should serve [fossil fuel] he termed 'natural resources' interests Speech drive.google.com/file/d/0B3y3...

UK Ministry of Justice prefer secrecy in courts Courtsdesk, a data analysis company that supports media and campaigners in monitoring court records, has been ordered by the government to delete its archive, which provides a crucial tool for journalists covering the justice system archive.ph/7JsJ8

At least we have snow ☃️❄️🏂 And it is peaceful (locally, & in the immediate vicinity) 🕊️ Happy start to our new work week of new year 2026 ☕

'Passcode' and 'no way for anyone else to read it' 🤣