THE architect of the children's panel system in Scotland and
arch-devolutionist, Lord Kilbrandon, has died at his home near Oban,
aged 83.
As well as overseeing the legal reform for the treatment of young
offenders in 1964, Lord Kilbrandon was also author of the report which
proposed a Scottish Assembly.
From 1972-73, Lord Kilbrandon chaired the Royal Commision on the
Constitution. It recommended an Assembly of 100 members and a Scottish
Prime Minster, and led eventually to the referendum in the late 1970s.
He remained a committed campaigner for a Scottish Assembly and later
attacked the ''miserable device'' by which 52% of those who voted for
devolution had been deemed insufficient for the implementation of the
Scotland Act.
Born Charles James Dalrymple Shaw, son of James Shaw, county clerk of
Ayrshire, he was educated at Charterhouse, Balliol College, Oxford, and
Edinburgh University. He became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in
1932 and took silk 17 years later.
He was made Sheriff of Ayr and Bute in 1954, became Dean of the
Faculty of Advocates in 1957, and in 1959 became Sheriff of Perth and
Angus. Later that year he was appointed a Judge.
He was made a life peer in 1971.
Lord Kilbrandon chaired an all-party committee in 1984 which called
for the phasing out of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
He is survived by his wife, Caroline, and there were two sons and
three daughters.
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