Courtesy call on Lord Pentland, Lord President of the Court of Session
2026/7/2
On Thursday, 2nd July 2026, Consul General Katsutoshi Takeda paid a courtesy call on Lord Pentland, Lord President of the Court of Session.
The Lord President of the Court of Session oversees the administration of both civil and criminal courts as the highest judicial authority. The incumbent, Lord Pentland (Paul Cullen), is a strong proponent of "Open Justice" initiatives—such as the live-streaming of court proceedings—and is leading the development of a transparent judicial system tailored to modern society. Furthermore, he is a leading advocate for trauma-informed justice, expanding "special measures" that allow victims of sexual offences to give evidence via remote video links or pre-recorded statements, sparing them the ordeal of appearing in open court alongside the accused.
On that day, Consul General Takeda received a direct briefing from Lord Pentland on the overview of Scotland’s unique judicial system and its modern operations. Following this, guided by his Lordship, the Consul General toured Parliament House, which dates back to the 17th century, and the Judges’ Reading Room. Furthermore, they inspected the interior of the court, including a courtroom equipped with live-streaming facilities.
The Lord President of the Court of Session oversees the administration of both civil and criminal courts as the highest judicial authority. The incumbent, Lord Pentland (Paul Cullen), is a strong proponent of "Open Justice" initiatives—such as the live-streaming of court proceedings—and is leading the development of a transparent judicial system tailored to modern society. Furthermore, he is a leading advocate for trauma-informed justice, expanding "special measures" that allow victims of sexual offences to give evidence via remote video links or pre-recorded statements, sparing them the ordeal of appearing in open court alongside the accused.
On that day, Consul General Takeda received a direct briefing from Lord Pentland on the overview of Scotland’s unique judicial system and its modern operations. Following this, guided by his Lordship, the Consul General toured Parliament House, which dates back to the 17th century, and the Judges’ Reading Room. Furthermore, they inspected the interior of the court, including a courtroom equipped with live-streaming facilities.