Ailsa Carmichael

Ailsa Jane Carmichael, Lady Carmichael (born 26 November 1969) is a Scottish advocate and judge who has served as a Senator of the College of Justice since 2016. Separately, Lady Carmichael has served as President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal since 1 November 2025 having been its vice president prior to that.

Early life Ailsa Jane Carmichael was born on 28 November 1969 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, the eldest of two daughters to Ian Henry Buist Carmichael and Jean Cowie Carmichael (née Davidson). Her father was an advocate and worked for the Scottish Legal Action Group. Carmichael's younger sister Heather is an advocate, working in Westwater Advocates.

In 1986, after leaving school from fifth year, Carmichael attended the University of Glasgow School of Law. She studied abroad at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and worked in law firms in Amsterdam.

Senator of the College of Justice On 11 May 2016, it was announced that Carmichael would be one of five new judges appointed to the College of Justice, the others being John Beckett, Alistair Clark, Frank Mulholland, and Andrew Stewart.