London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Oct 24, 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
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
China and Russia Deploy Seductive Espionage Networks to Infiltrate U.S. Tech Sector
Apple’s ‘iPhone Air’ Collapses After One Month — Another Major Misstep for the Tech Giant
Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
×