His Majesty the King has formally approved the appointment of the Right Honourable Lord Raymond Doherty as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The appointment was made on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor, following the recommendation of an independent selection commission — underscoring the structured and consultative process for judicial elevation in the UK.
Lord Doherty has served as a judge of the Inner House of the Court of Session in Edinburgh since 2020. His distinguished career reflects a broad and deep engagement with civil and public law.
Born in Stirling, Doherty received his early education in Alloa and Dumfries before pursuing legal studies at the University of Edinburgh, Hertford College, Oxford, and Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Scottish Bar in 1984 and became the first recipient of the Lord Reid Scholarship. His practice at the Bar was largely civil, with notable expertise in commercial law, property law, public law, and valuation for rating. He also served as standing junior counsel to UK government departments between 1990 and 1997, and was elected Clerk of the Faculty of Advocates in 1990. He took silk in 1997 and later served as Advocate-depute (prosecuting counsel) from 1998 to 2001.
Lord Doherty’s judicial career began in 2010 with his appointment to the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary. He has since held several significant judicial offices, including:
– Judge of the Lands Valuation Appeal Court (since 2011)
– Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery) (2013–2020)
– Chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
– Commercial Judge and Exchequer Judge (2014–2020)
– Principal Commercial Judge (2018–2020)
– Judge of the Registration Appeal Court (2025)
Beyond the bench, Lord Doherty has contributed to legal scholarship as joint editor (1990–2021) and later general editor of Armour on Valuation for Rating. He was recently elected an honorary bencher of Middle Temple.
He is married with three adult children and is expected to be sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court in early 2026.
