William Macpherson (judge)


Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny is a Scottish retired High Court judge, and the 27th Hereditary Chief of Clan Macpherson. In the late 1990s, Macpherson led the public inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Early life and education

Macpherson was born in Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross. He is the only son of Brigadier Alan David Macpherson of Cluny Macpherson, 5th of Blairgowrie, 27th Hereditary Chief of Macpherson, and Catharine Richardson Hill. Macpherson was educated at Summer Fields School, Wellington College, and Trinity College, Oxford. From 1944 to 1947, he served as a captain in the Scots Guards.

Career

Macpherson was called to the bar in 1952.
From 1962 to 1965, he was the commanding officer of the Special Air Service within the Territorial Army.
He was knighted in 1983. The same year he was appointed to the Queen's Bench in the High Court and was made Honorary Colonel of the 21st Special Air Squadron Regiment. In 1991, Macpherson was appointed honorary fellow at Trinity College, Oxford. In his legal career, Macpherson was involved in numerous important cases, including the conviction of the serial killer Robert Black in 1994. He retired in 1996. In 1997, Macpherson was appointed head of the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. The inquiry was published in February 1999, and became known as The Macpherson Report. The report, in which Macpherson made over 70 recommendations, has been called "one of the most important moments in the modern history of criminal justice in Britain".

Personal life

Macpherson was married to Sheila McDonald Brodie, who died in 2003. He has two sons and a daughter.