Son of the manse appointed Procurator of the General Assembly
Published on 25 May 2023
The son of a minister who first attended the General Assembly 45 years ago has been appointed its new Procurator.
Jonathan Brodie KC said he is "deeply grateful" to be given the opportunity to take on the role which entails providing legal advice across a vast array of topics, covering both Church and civil law, and representing the Kirk in legal settings.
The Advocate succeeds Laura Dunlop KC who is standing down as Procurator on the 31st of May after 18 years service.
Mr Brodie is the son of Very Rev Dr Peter Brodie, minister of St Mungo's Parish Church in Alloa, Clackmannanshire who was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1978.
He will be the 26th holder of a post that dates back to 1638.
Mr Brodie said: "The Church has been blessed by a truly distinguished line of Procurators, including Laura Dunlop KC who is stepping down.
"That is daunting but I am deeply grateful to the Church for its trust.
"I have been deeply touched by the good wishes and warmth expressed toward me on this appointment.
"The Church has provided me with a literal and spiritual home.
"I hope I may be able to help by providing clear and sound legal advice in support of its greater work."
Power and grace
The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church of Scotland.
Commissioners examine the work and laws of the Church and make decisions that affect its future.
Mr Brodie said he first attended the General Assembly in 1978 when his father was Moderator and thereafter every opening and closing session until the mid-1990s, attending a "fair few" debates in between.
"That imbued in me a deep sense of the Church at work and the power and grace of its debates," he explained.
"It also gave me an insight into the role of Procurator at an unusually young age."
Mr Brodie was called to the Scottish Bar as an Advocate in 1994 and became a QC (now KC) in 2009.
The work of an Advocate, and on "taking silk" of a KC, centres on the presentation of cases in court and providing legal advice.
Mr Brodie has extensive, evidentiary and appellate advocacy experience in the Court of Session, High Court and Supreme Court as well as various tribunals and inquiries.
His areas of practice cover and have covered personal injuries, professional negligence, public and administrative law, planning and conservation, crime, including regulatory, financial and health and safety.
"I have been lucky to cover a range of legal topics in my work, but part of the thrill of being appointed Procurator is the breadth of topics that role can involve," explained the KC.
"It is a real treat for a lawyer, although also a potential trap."
Attached to Arnot Manderson Advocates in Edinburgh, Mr Brodie will start his new role on the 1st of June.
