First Minister Appointment Process

Process Steps

CAJR Team Leader / RoS Secretariat

1.1 Receive notification from the First Minister’s Office of a date when the Great Seal of Scotland will be required at the Court of Session.

1.1.1 A pre-meet with the First Minister's (FM) office may occur to discuss times and names of attendees from RoS.

1.2 CAJR Team Leader will liaise with the Scottish Government (SG) Protocol Team regarding having everything in place for them to arrange:

1.2.1 Minute of Appointment registered in Books of Council and Session. This will be sent for registration after the First Minister has been sworn in at the Court of Session; the actual document being sent to RoS usually within 2-3 weeks of the swearing in.

1.2.2 Royal Warrant - Commission process.

1.3 These are used for the Court of Session swearing in ceremony.

CAJR Team Leader

1.4 Liaise with Conservation team at National Records of Scotland to advise when the Great Seal of Scotland will be collected and returned.

1.5 Liaise with the Scottish Parliament, Office of the Presiding Officer’s team, to ensure there are no Letters Patent for that day. If so, then a workaround will be put in place to ensure the seal is returned on time for NRS to use.

1.6 Arrange security for the Seal with RoS Estates team.

1.7 Retrieve ‘presentation’ cushions from the 1st floor cupboard as these will travel with the seal for use in the court.

1.8 After the appointment, the Warrant requires to be notarised by the Principal Clerk for recording in the Books of Sederunt. It will be returned to the FM office and they should send it to RoS. This can take a couple of weeks. If there is a delay, contact the Director and Principal Clerk’s office at the court to confirm at what stage it will arrive at RoS for passing under the Great Seal so that the seal impression can be completed and vellum/calligraphy can take place (i.e. Commission Process).

1.9 Raise an invoice £630. See Royal Warrant & Commission Process.