Roddy Dunlop KC

Dean of the Faculty of Advocates; Silk since 2010. All views personal only!

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

I guess of all the things I’ve asked AI since I stopped posting here, this is probably the least professionally problematic one accidentally to have ended up on X.

Hope you’re all well. I’m off to be quiet again. Don’t imagine much has happened anyway. 😬

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

What wattage will this supply?

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

What wattage will this supply?

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

As the Royal Warrants have now been signed, I can confirm that this is why my TwiX journey is over, doubtless to sighs of relief from many. Very much a part time appointment (2-3 wks/yr), and my practice at the bars of Scot, E&W continues.

Peace out, you lovely people.

[Axiom Advocates @AxiomAdvocates]

Axiom is pleased to share the news that Roddy Dunlop KC, Dean of Faculty, has been appointed as a judge to the Courts of Appeal in Jersey and Guernsey.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

Breaking my twitter embargo to promote this, to students and practitioners alike. It was born of a conversation on X, and I am delighted to see it come to fruition. Sincere thanks to @rblackqc and Dominic Scullion, advocate, as well as the other contributors, for making it so.

[Robert Black KC @rblackqc]

A second edition just published by Edinburgh University Press, only 43 years after the first edition, published by the Law Society of Scotland.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

A belated happy 2025, everyone…! You may have noticed that I’ve been rather quiet on here. This is because I’ve been nominated for appointment to a (very much part time) judicial position. It will only involve sitting 1-2 weeks a year, and I will remain in practice at the Bars of Scotland (mainly) and England and Wales. However, I don’t think it’s wise for judicial office holders - even part time ones - to be posting on social media, and so I’ll be holding my tongue from now on (doubtless to the relief of many). I will leave this account active, and can still be contacted on DM, but other than in exceptional circumstances won’t be posting.

I’ve met some great people on here. Some awful ones too, mind. 😳 I’ll miss the banter, but not the doomscrolling.

Take care, all of you. And be nice to each other!

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

Going to do the only sensible thing and spend the festive season off social media. See you in 2025, and in the meantime: merry Christmas, ya filthy animals.

(It’s from Home Alone, before anyone complains). 😘

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@MAMBarLife @parcelforce It’s endemic. @FedEx claimed to be unable to find my house - 4 days in a row - despite it being on a main road in Edinburgh and despite me giving them the google maps pin and the What3Words location for my actual front door. 🤷‍♂️

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@Fyrishsunset @ifellonithonest Jeez.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

N v Poole Borough Council is probably the furthest the courts have gone. And that’s a mile away from imposing a duty of care for the consequences of legislation. Seriously: please ask any lawyer. What you’re talking about is utterly unstatable. It’s wholly inimical to the idea of parliamentary supremacy, and killed stone dead by Kent v East Suffolk 1941 and literally every case since then.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@dre71_dar That case (from Australia…) has *nothing to do* with whether or not a duty of care arises in any given situation.

Best of luck, tho. I do like a negroni.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@dre71_dar @J4m35c4mpb3ll @scotgov No duty of care on the part of legislators to the general population. That’s really basic.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@dre71_dar @J4m35c4mpb3ll @scotgov Nope.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@dre71_dar @J4m35c4mpb3ll Who? The Scottish Government?

Yes. I’ve heard of them. Didn’t write their COVID (or any other) laws though.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@WingsScotland @bigemptyheid @ndls61 @SandyWito1 @SteveSayersOne @RickTusgrin72 I don’t like that sign. The last part of it is discriminatory.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@WingsScotland @bigemptyheid @ndls61 @SandyWito1 @SteveSayersOne @RickTusgrin72 I like it when you tap the sign.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@TheVikingDane @WingsScotland @ndls61 @historywoman @RickTusgrin72 Bloody pillaging again!

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@WingsScotland @ndls61 @historywoman @RickTusgrin72 Fair point. Now: what is your favourite cheese?

(Hat tip @JoeBangles11 and @TheVikingDane ).

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@RoddyQC @bigemptyheid @ndls61 @SandyWito1 @SteveSayersOne @RickTusgrin72 Don't make me tap the sign again, you.

[Roddy Dunlop KC @RoddyQC]

@WingsScotland @andrewgmorton @SteveSayersOne @RickTusgrin72 Be as surprised as you like: my point is *no one knows what will happen*.

That’s the only certainty here. Claiming you know what will happen when it will inevitably turn on what is negotiated is, well: it’s a bit daft, no?