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Professor Gerry Maher KC

Professor of Criminal Law

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It is with great sadness that Edinburgh Law School announces the passing of our friend and colleague, Professor Gerry Maher KC (1953 - 2023). Professor Maher passed away on 28 January 2023 surrounded by his family. He will be deeply missed by the Edinburgh Law School community and our sincere condolences are with his family.

In memoriam: Professor Gerry Maher KC

About Professor Gerry Maher KC

Professor Gerry Maher KC was appointed Professor of Criminal Law in 2000. He studied law at Glasgow University until 1974 and obtained a B.Litt. at Oxford University in 1976. His first academic post was in the Department of Scots Law at Edinburgh University from 1976 to 1979. He was then lecturer and later senior lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence at Glasgow University from 1980 to 1992. From 1992 to 2000 he held a chair as Professor of Law at Strathclyde, where he taught criminal law, commercial law, legal process, evidence, and international private law. Professor Maher was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1987 and was a practising Advocate from 1989 to 1992. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2003. He was a full-time Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission from 2000 to September 2008. He was the lead Commissioner on many important law reform projects, including those on diligence, age of criminal responsibility, insanity and diminished responsibility, and rape and other sexual offences.