Stephen Tierney part of appellate team appearing before the Supreme Court

Stephen Tierney is part of the appellate team appearing before the Supreme Court on Monday, 9 June in the case of X v The Lord Advocate. The appellant alleges that in 2018 she was the victim of four incidents involving assault and/or harassment by a sheriff. These allegations were denied by the sheriff, but in 2024 a Fitness for Office Tribunal ordered the sheriff’s removal from office. The judgment of the Inner House can be found on bailii.org, view the pdf here. The appeal involves the question of vicarious responsibility for the sheriff’s conduct and, in particular, whether or not the appellant’s case against the respondent under section 2 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 satisfies the first stage (a relationship of employment or akin to employment) of the test for vicarious liability.