Sheriff steps down from bench at Inverness court
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AN Inverness Sheriff has presided over his last official day at work on the bench at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood is a former pupil of Elgin Academy.
Appointed part-time sheriff for the Highlands in 2003, he had his own practice in Inverness until 2008 and from 2010-2014 was a member of the Parole Board of Scotland.
He was appointed a full-time floating sheriff for the sheriffdom of the Highlands and Islands in 2014.
Solicitor Shahid Latif thanked the sheriff for his service as he conducted the solemn business of the court in Court Number 2 on Friday.
Mr Latif said:"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to address you on behalf of my clients - sometimes painful, sometimes less painful - but always an education. I wish you well for what the future holds for you."
Depute fiscal Robert Weir on behalf of the Crown said: "Thank you for your legal guidance and thank you for your assistance over the years."
Sheriff Fleetwood replied: "It is almost 50 years to the day I first walked into Edinburgh University.
"It's five years since I became a full-time sheriff. Everything I have done has been worthwhile and fun in a serious way. Sometimes I got it wrong but mostly I got it right. Hopefully in getting it right I have always been fair."
Sheriff Fleetwood was welcomed in his full-time role in 2014 by Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle. They knew each other since the 1970s through the Edinburgh Law Society.
Married with two grown up daughters Sheriff Fleetwood (67) graduated in law at Edinburgh University and qualified as a solicitor in 1975 and became a solicitor advocate in 1994.
His hobbies include fishing and curling.
