In May 2016, the First Minister nominated James to be Lord Advocate, and, following approval of that nomination by the Scottish Parliament, he was appointed by the Queen. As Lord Advocate for Scotland.

James was born in 1962 and spent his childhood in Gatehouse-of-Fleet. Between the ages of four and eleven he attended Gatehouse Primary School. At that time, Gatehouse also had a four-year secondary school, where he started his secondary education there, before moving on to Kirkcudbright Academy after first year. He attended the Academy for five years, leaving in 1979 to go to Edinburgh University.

James recently made a return visit to the Academy highlighting the following:

‘I received a strong academic education at the school – but the Academy also valued other activities, such as sport (which I was no good at) and music (which I enjoyed). I took five Highers in fifth year (English, Maths, French, Physics and History). In sixth year, I took Certificates of Sixth Year Studies in English and History, Higher Economics and O Grade Music. I was Deputy Head Boy and Proxime Accessit to the Dux of the School.

One of the highlights of my final year at the Academy was the production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado. As a result of industrial action by the teaching staff, which threatened to require the show to be cancelled, the students took over the production. Jo Miller, the Head Girl, was the musical director and conductor; I provided piano accompaniment; John Scott, the Head Boy, sang the male lead and organized the lighting.’