James Wolffe

Walter James Wolffe FSAScot FRIAS (born 20 December 1962) is a Scottish advocate who served as Lord Advocate from 2016 to 2021. He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 2014 to 2016, and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 2013 to 2014.

Early life

Walter James Wolffe was born on 20 December 1962 in Dumfries to Alexandra L. Graham and Antony Curtiss Wolffe MBE. He attended Gatehouse of Fleet Primary School and then Kirkcudbright Academy.

Wolffe has been instructed for cases at all levels, including the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the European Court of Human Rights. He has been called to the bar of England & Wales in 2013.

Lord Advocate

On 31 May 2016 the Scottish Government announced that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had recommended Wolffe to the Scottish Parliament for appointment as Lord Advocate by the Queen. His appointment was confirmed by the Scottish Parliament on 1 June 2016.

Awards and honours

Wolffe had the following awards and honours:

Member of the Privy Council (16 November 2016); Queen's Counsel (which became King's Counsel on 8 September 2022 upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III); Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE); Honorary LLD, Glasgow University; Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSAScot); Fellow of the European Law Institute; Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (FRIAS); Honorary Bencher, King's Inns, Dublin

Personal life

Wolffe married Sarah Poyntell LaBudde, in 1987, a Senator of the College of Justice in the Supreme Courts of Scotland. They have two sons.