In memoriam, Sheriff Joyce Powrie

The Faculty of Advocates is saddened by the death of former member of Faculty Sheriff Joyce Powrie.

Ms Powrie graduated from the University of Dundee in 1977, moved to Edinburgh for her apprenticeship and made the decision – unusual at a time when few women undertook criminal defence work – to advance her career in that direction. She worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh, becoming a partner in a well-known Edinburgh firm of criminal lawyers. She regularly conducted business in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

She became a member of Faculty in 1988. Her devil masters were Colin Campbell  QC (now Lord Malcolm) and the late Graham Bell QC. She went on to establish a busy practice in the High Court and, based on her training experiences with Graham Bell QC, established herself as a well-known face in the Criminal Appeal Court in the 1990s.

Following some years as a temporary Sheriff, she was appointed as a full-time Sheriff in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway at Hamilton in 1999. Her entire shrieval career was spent at Hamilton Sheriff Court, where her friendly and practical approach, particularly in criminal cases, made her a popular figure among local practitioners and the Sheriff Clerk’s staff. She retired in 2016.

Ms Powrie passed away earlier this month after struggling with ill-health for some time. She is survived by her brother and his children.