Second Division High Court Justice Lord Alan Johnston has died suddenly. It is understood he suffered a heart attack.

The Right Hon Lord Johnston was appointed a Judge in 1994. He served as Chairman of the Scottish Division of the Employment Appeal Tribunal from 1996 to 2005. He is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge (BA, Jesus College) and Edinburgh (LLB) and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1967.

He was Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Home and Health Department from 1974 to 1979 and served as an Advocate Depute from 1979 to 1982. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1980.

Lord Johnston was a Chairman of Industrial Tribunals and of Medical Appeal Tribunals. He was the Treasurer and subsequently Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. He was an honorary life member of the American Bar Association

Johnstone sat on the 3 man panel which rejected Nat Fraser's appeal only last month.  He was presiding over the John Tunnicliffe sentence appeal together with Lord Penrose and Lord Mackay of Drumadoon.