London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025

Alex Salmond lawyer guilty of professional misconduct

Alex Salmond lawyer guilty of professional misconduct

The lawyer who acted for Alex Salmond during his sex assault trial, has been found guilty of professional misconduct for discussing the case on a train.

Gordon Jackson QC was caught on video making comments about the former first minister and two of his accusers.

A disciplinary panel decided the QC's conversation - which was leaked to a newspaper - breached a court order protecting the accusers' identities.

Mr Salmond was acquitted of a string of sexual offence charges.

Rape Crisis Scotland, which prompted the investigation by the Faculty of Advocates with a complaint on behalf of Mr Salmond's accusers, called for Mr Jackson to be stripped of his right to practice as a QC.

Mr Jackson said he would not be making any comment about the panel's decision.

He apologised at the time, saying he "deeply regrets the distress and difficulties" caused by the footage.

He referred himself to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and in April 2020 announced he would quit as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.

Gordon Jackson represented Alex Salmond during his sex assault trial


He said it would not be appropriate to remain in post while the faculty was considering disciplinary proceedings.

The panel concluded that Mr Jackson had publicly named two complainers and given details that would allow a woman to be identified.

It considered that this amounted to professional misconduct. It also said that giving details that could lead to identification was a breach of the court order.

The penalty for Mr Jackson's misconduct has yet to be determined. It is open to him to seek an appeal.

The video recording of Mr Jackson's conversation, obtained by the Sunday Times, was filmed by a fellow passenger on a train from Edinburgh to Glasgow during Mr Salmond's two-week trial in March 2020.

It appeared to show the QC naming two of Mr Salmond's accusers, despite strict rules that protect their anonymity.

A recording of Mr Jackson's train conversation was obtained by the Sunday Times


Mr Jackson could also be heard saying: "I don't know much about senior politicians but he was quite an objectionable bully to work with, in a way that I don't think Nicola [current first minister Nicola Sturgeon] is.

"I think he was a nasty person to work for...a nightmare to work for."

He can then be heard saying: "Inappropriate, stupid...but sexual? Unfortunately [he then names two of the women accusers] say it's sexual."

Mr Salmond was cleared by a jury of all 13 of the sexual assault allegations against him.

'Chilling message'


Rape Crisis Scotland has called for Mr Jackson to be "stripped of his right to practise as a QC as an appropriate sanction that reflects the severity of this professional misconduct".

Chief executive Sandy Brindley said it was "relieved that the Faculty of Advocates have finally confirmed that this was professional misconduct, and a breach of the contempt of court order that remains in place to protect the anonymity of the complainers in this case".

Ms Brindley said: "The process of this complaint handling, and the fact this happened at all, should prompt serious reflection on accountability and organisational culture within the legal profession.

"We shouldn't underestimate the harm of Jackson's actions here, not only to the women directly involved in the case, but in the chilling message he sent that day to anyone considering reporting sexual crimes.

"Navigating the criminal justice process is already daunting and difficult for complainers, any breaches of the anonymity of those who do report their experiences are serious and completely unacceptable."


Lawyers and indeed journalists spend a decent amount of time hanging around the corridors of courthouses picking over the details of cases.

It should be stressed that this generally takes place between people who already have knowledge of the trial in question - more a question of sharing perspectives than telling tales out of school.

So the fact there was some discussion of the evidence being heard and the strategies at play is not necessarily a surprise.

However, the Alex Salmond trial was a phenomenon, the subject of national interest and speculation. As the lead defence lawyer, Mr Jackson was one of the faces of the story.

And rather than being behind the closed doors of the court, this conversation took place in a rather public place - indeed a public enough place for someone to record parts of it without Gordon Jackson's knowledge.

Ultimately, the QC's involvement in the trial may chiefly be remembered for the fact he was on the winning side.

But this finding of misconduct is a blot on what was a formidable reputation, with Mr Jackson facing sanction by the very organisation he once headed.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
×