John Scullion KC

Year of Call 2002 Year of Silk 2014

John specialises in defending complex criminal trials prosecuted in the High Court of Justiciary and Sheriff Court.

He has defended health and safety prosecutions involving death and injury in the course of employment; fatal road traffic collisions; financial prosecutions and other areas of regulatory crime. He has extensive experience of lengthy and complex criminal trials including fraud, money laundering, bribery, murder and sexual offences. He also has experience of Public Inquiries and Fatal Accident Inquiries.

He was appointed as an advocate depute in 2007. In 2009 he became a senior advocate depute and in 2011 was appointed to the role of Assistant Principal Crown Counsel. He returned to private practice in 2015 and since then has become one of the most widely instructed senior counsel at the Scottish Criminal Bar.

Representative Cases

2023: Sheku Bayoh – Representing the Police investigations and Review Commissioner in Public Inquiry

2023: HMA v MR – Manager at Midlothian Council prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010

2023: HMA v KB – Farmer proscuted for shooting a dog in sheep worrying incident

2023: HMA v DB – Car dealer prosecuted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

2023: HMA v ACM  – Police Officer prosecuted for on duty Assault and Attempting to Defeat the Ends of Justice

2022: HMA v AB – Solicitor prosecuted in the High Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

2022: HMA v DM – van driver prosecuted in the High Court for causing the death of a pedestrian by dangerous driving

2019: HMA v KK – Teenager prosecuted in the High Court in relation to charge of causing death of a pedestrian by dangerous driving  

2019: HMA v MH – Lorry driver prosecuted in the Sheriff Court in relation to causing death of pedestrian by careless driving

2019: Law Society of Scotland v MR – solicitor prosecuted before disciplinary panel following multiple convictions under S5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

2019: HMA v CG – Edinburgh University Student prosecuted in the High Court in relation to allegations of rape involving fellow students

2018: HMA v AM – Teenager prosecuted in the Sheriff Court in relation to causing serious injury to pedestrian by dangerous driving

2018: HMA v DB – Teacher prosecuted for historical sexual allegations

2017: HMA v LT – Accountant prosecuted for embezzlement from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

2016: HMA v LT T/A Hex Fabrication (4-week sheriff and jury trial) – Section 3 HSWA involving a death at work following the collapse of a Mobile Elevating Work Platform

2016: HMA v AJM – Employee of Adam Smith College, Fife, prosecuted in the High Court charged with fraudulently obtaining funds from the European Commission European Structural Funds

2016: HMA v WM – Church minister prosecuted for historical sexual abuse made by parishioners

2016: WM v HMA – Successful appeal against conviction by church minister convicted of charges of sexual assault made by parishioners

2016: HMA v IA – Rangers Case – Advising former director of Rangers Football Club prosecuted in relation to allegations of fraud

2015: Financial Conduct Authority v Alasdair Greig - Multimillion pound fraud action brought against an Independent Financial Advisor

2015: HMA v TA - Professional footballer prosecuted on indictment containing a charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement

2015: HMA v AP - Notorious murder of Irish student Karen Buckley

Contact Us

  • Compass Chambers
    Parliament House
    Edinburgh
    EH1 1RF