Sheriff Principal Ian Abercromby administered the Oath of Allegiance to Sheriff Colm Dempsey at a ceremony at Dumfries Sheriff Court. The new sheriff was welcomed by assistant procurator fiscal Lyndsay Hunter and the Dean of the Society of Solicitors of Dumfriesshire Alasdair Bryce.
Edinburgh-born Sheriff Dempsey was educated at George Heriots and Aberdeen University and qualified as a solicitor in 2006. Eight years later he became an advocate solicitor and has a wide experience of court work in Edinburgh.
On the leisure side he is a rugby enthusiast and a keen cyclist and is looking forward to trying out the trails throughout Dumfries and Galloway.