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Scotsman
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scotland's nobility meet in Edinburgh where past titles meet with present-day expectations
A private gathering at the famous New Club marks the growing public interest in Scotland's neglected aristocracy Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Later this year, Scotland's inherited nobility will meet for their yearly gathering, coinciding with growing public fascination with the historic titles that have survived through centuries of political turmoil. The annual meeting of the Registry of Scots Nobility, which will take place on September 23 at the exclusive New Club on Princes Street in Edinburgh, will bring together peers, baronets, and minor barons whose titles date back to medieval Scotland — and even before the controversial Act of Union with England in 1707. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This year's theme responds to a pressing modern concern: the public image of Scottish nobility in the age of social media and instant access to information. This conference takes place at a moment when sources like Wikipedia and Debrett's Peerage have dramatically increased public access to information about Scottish titles, a situation that marks a vast change from even a decade ago. The dining room of the New Club in Edinburgh, where Scottish nobility gathered for this year's meeting. 'There is unprecedented public fascination with Scottish nobility,' the informant in the Registry said. 'People more and more want to know who these titleholders are and the role they play in Scotland today.' The expert panel includes heraldry expert Dr Bruce Durie, curator of the Scottish Barony Register Alistair Shepherd, and lawyer Michael Yellowlees, who will each clarify the intricate legal frameworks that regulate the inheritance of titles. Political storm clouds The plan for an internet registry followed mounting concerns that emerged over the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, during which time Scottish National Party leaders publicly considered the establishment of a Scottish republic as part of the European Union — a prospect that could seriously undermine the legitimacy of all hereditary titles. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The majority of EU republics do not recognise heraldic authorities or titles,' according to one of the Registry's spokesmen. 'Scotland's cultural legacy has long been of great concern, historically.' The conference will further discuss the evolving role of baron's courts and the state of traditional baronies and their lands despite the reality of these titles no longer being attached to land ownership in the traditional sense. Last year's gathering heard how the question of Scottish nobility has captivated Scots for over 400 years, with heated debates about whether holders of coats of arms should be considered noble alongside the established peerage, baronetage and baronage. Ancient heritage under modern scrutiny The Registry is exclusively dedicated to titles created before 1707 in the name of the Scottish crown, qualifying those titles created afterwards as British or UK peerages rather than genuine Scottish distinctions. Contrarily, all those titles enrolled are inheritable, and additionally, Scottish legal systems often allow inheritance through female descent more often than in English law. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish nobility is differentiated from the English equivalent in several important ways based on its distinctive features. Scottish titles more frequently pass through the female line, representative of the older Scottish principles of law that gave more prominence to female heirs over English ones. Scotland's most junior rank is comprised of lords of parliament rather than barons, in comparison with the English peerage system, while Scottish minor barons occupy a unique station in the nobility unrelated to the traditional peerage system. Before the creation of the Union, minor barons sat in the Scottish Parliament and enjoyed significant influence both legally and socially, and their votes for the Act of Union were recorded separately from those of the elected boroughs. The Act of Union had far-reaching implications for Scottish customs, requiring the removal of several age-old customs as well as the transfer of the Scottish court to London during the reign of James VI. What is significant is that, while there were intersections involving the Scottish nobility and the clan systems — such as the role of the Chief of Clan Campbell played by the Duke of Argyll — these were exception rather than the rule. Most Scottish clan chiefs are not peers or minor barons in possession of titles, and the medieval Scottish nobility, centered from the thirteenth through the seventeenth centuries in Edinburgh, Stirling, and Falkland, operated essentially outside of the tartan-wearing clan culture often associated with modem Scottish identity. The institution went digital based on fears that Scotland's sovereignty would undermine traditional titles' recognition. The shift aimed at ensuring that those historic differences would be retained in permanent record regardless of any political changes.
Boston Globe
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Boston Globe
Driver's licenses in limbo: Government debts jeopardize thousands of Mass. drivers
The number of drivers who lost their authority to drive under these circumstances is unclear. The Registry's data didn't specify how many drivers failed to settle their debts before their licenses expired. Those who do face limited choices. No payment plans are available, and unlike drivers who have been sanctioned for dangerous driving, there are no hardship licenses. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'They're really put in an impossible situation,' said Caroline Cohn, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. Advertisement This is the predicament facing Angel, 43, who drove himself into debt passing through tolls. He had no E-ZPass transponder for his car, but, he said, he never received toll bills, and later learned they were mailed to a previous address. By the time he realized he owed money, his bill was $1,247 and that would balloon to nearly $6,000 as a portion of his balance was sent to collections, and fees and penalties mounted. Related : Without a driver's license, Angel said he's been spiraling, thrust into a seemingly endless cycle of needing to work to pay off the debt, but unable to work consistently without a valid license. Advertisement 'Such a little thing can have a huge impact in your daily life,' said Angel, a former Uber driver who now relies on public transportation. (The Globe agreed to identify Angel, an East Boston resident, by his first name as requested by him and his lawyer because of his debts.) From 2020 through last year, the Registry has prohibited driver's licenses from being renewed an average of 593,580 times annually because of unpaid tolls, excise taxes, and a court fee imposed on low-income people eligible free legal representation, according to agency figures. The Registry has also blocked the renewal of motor vehicle registrations an average of 120,883 times each year between 2020 and 2024 for unpaid excise taxes and tolls. Related : Without a legal option for driving, many drivers with debt find themselves exiled from the job market and unable to pay off the debts to restore their licenses or risk further jeopardy by driving illegally, critics said. Their earning options are greatly diminished because they cannot commute by car, perform driving-related job functions, or use that form of identification, advocates said. State Senator Julian Cyr, a Cape Cod Democrat, is pushing a bill that would limit the Registry's authority to impose sanctions on driver's licenses and vehicle registrations triggered by state taxes and certain fines. The bill, which is backed by state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, would let drivers seek to have their fees waived or reduced based on financial hardship, and would direct the Registry to send bill payment reminders by email and text message. Advertisement The Registry would keep its authority to suspend driver's licenses for dangerous driving, operating under the influence of alcohol, and repeated unsafe driving infractions, according to bill advocates. Related : 'There is a real cycle of debt and legal entrapment,' Cyr said. 'We need to catch up to a number of states who have already reformed or eliminated debt-based license suspensions.' In a statement, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the law permitting the Registry to prohibit drivers with government debts from renewing their licenses has been in place since 1992. The assessments that can trigger the sanctions help to fund government services, including local aid to communities and highway maintenance, the agency said. 'MassDOT shares concerns about the fairness of the program and is open to discussions with our partners in the Legislature on any changes that could be made to minimize harm to people,' the statement said. Related : Massachusetts is out of step with other states that have limited or eliminated the government's authority to restrict driving because of debt, according to the Free to Drive campaign, a national coalition of organizations that favor reforms. Twenty-six states plus the District of Columbia have implemented changes to end or reduce restrictions for driver's licenses because of unpaid debts. Kristen Bor-Zale, a staff attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services who represents Angel, said the agency has been approached by other clients facing setbacks similar to his. According to a Globe review of RMV data, the agency placed licensees in non-renewal status more than 1.1 million times during a four-year period because of unpaid tolls. There are no options for payment plans or to petition for the debt to be reduced or waived; and legal protections that shield people receiving public benefits from being forced to pay consumer debts do not apply, Bor-Zale said. Advertisement By contrast, drivers who have been sanctioned for drunken-driving, driving under the influence of drugs, or have been designated as 'habitual traffic offenders' can apply Driving is vital for Massachusetts workers, with 70 percent commuting by vehicle to their jobs, 'If they can't legally drive they are getting cut out of the economy,' Bor-Zale said. 'It's pushing people to have to make very stark choices.' Another one of Bor-Zale's clients, Renata, said the Registry blocked her from renewing her license two years ago, claiming she owed more than $6,500 for tolls. The Hudson resident, who also asked that her last name be withheld because of her debts, said she had difficulty getting accurate information about her bill and was directed to debt collection companies. She accrued some of the debt, she said, while she was receiving cancer treatment and couldn't work. Renata lost her license because of unpaid tolls. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff 'I can't pay this bill. It was [worth] more than my car,' she said. Without a valid license, Renata, a licensed cosmetologist and chaplain for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said her daily life came to a standstill. Renata said her trips into the city for medical appointments are now arduous, requiring hours of travel on local buses, commuter rail, and then an Uber or subway trip. 'It's all the stress,' she said. Jucemar Pereira, 72, said he returned to Brazil last year to live with his daughter for a time because he couldn't renew his license over unpaid tolls. Advertisement 'Not having a driver's license was certainly a motivation,' Pereira said through a Portuguese interpreter from his residence in Brazil. 'My entire life relies on this … document,' said Pereira, a naturalized US citizen who had lived in Massachusetts for about 25 years. A working group of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a trade group for state driver's licensing agencies, wrote in a 2021 report that 'using a driver's license suspension for nonhighway safety violations should be avoided.' The Fines and Fees Justice Center, a national organization behind the Free to Drive campaign, has highlighted research from Yet there is concern about how potential changes could impact revenue collections. Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, a nonprofit organization that represents municipal governments, said communities rely on the revenue from the Registry's fines to deliver 'essential services.' 'While we understand the intent of the legislation, we wouldn't support provisions that would make it harder to collect essential sources of municipal revenue,' he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Renata is working on paying off her debts. In March, the Registry agreed to reinstate her license but placed her vehicle registration in nonrenewal, giving her until the end of the month to pay about $3,400. She said she doesn't know how she's going find the money. 'This is very tough,' she said. 'I just need my life back.' Advertisement This story was produced by the Globe's team, which covers the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston. You can sign up for the newsletter . Laura Crimaldi can be reached at
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Supreme Court initiates contempt against YouTuber for defamatory remarks on judge
The Supreme Court on Friday initiated suo motu criminal contempt of court proceedings against a YouTuber for alleged 'scandalous' remarks against a senior judge of the top court. A three-judge bench, presided by CJI B R Gavai and also comprising Justices A G Masih and A S Chandrukar, also directed that the video by YouTuber Ajay Shukla be taken down forthwith. The bench said that in the video clip, Ajay Shukla, editor in chief of digital channel, Varprad Media Pvt Ltd, 'has made scathing and scandalous observations on some of the senior judges of this court.' 'Such scandalous allegations widely published on YouTube, are likely to bring disrepute to the august institution of the judiciary,' the bench said. 'The Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech. At the same time, the right is subjected to reasonable restrictions,' the bench said, adding, 'a person cannot be permitted to make allegations which are in the nature of defaming a judge of this court and also of contemptuous nature which attempts to bring disrepute to the institution of judiciary.' The bench then directed the Registry to register the present proceedings as a suo motu contempt and asked Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist the court in the matter. The court, which is currently on partial working days, will hear the matter after it resumes full working mode.
Deccan Herald
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Bangalore Palace Ground: Supreme Court suspends previous order on insurance of TDR certificates
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and N Kotiswar Singh said all the TDR certificates would remain deposited with the Registry and if released, then those would not be utilised or any third party right would be created.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Registry chairman wants district attorney investigation of former state staffer's secret PAC
Cade Cothren, a former legislative aide, walks down Nashville's 7th Avenue with his attorney, Cynthia Sherwood, right, after being found guilty on 19 federal corruption counts. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) The chairman of Tennessee's campaign finance watchdog group is pushing for an investigation into a former state staffer's secret political action committee to determine whether it involved criminal activity. Registry of Election Finance Chairman Tom Lawless said Tuesday he is asking the group's executive director to reactivate a 2020 request for the Williamson County District Attorney's Office to conduct a probe of Cade Cothren, a former aide to one-time House Speaker Glen Casada, and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC. The investigation is expected t0 involve Casada as well. 'They have finished the criminal investigation, and those facts are available in our case, so come on people,' Lawless said, adding he believes the matter of renewal is 'not open for discussion.' The matter was put on hold as federal authorities pursued political corruption charges against Cothren and Casada, who were convicted in federal court this month on nearly 20 counts each in a kickback conspiracy. The two are expected to appeal, which could affect the board's decision. Bill Young, executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, said he is likely to review the matter with the Registry of Election Finance at its summer meeting. Sentencing for the pair is scheduled for Sept. 12. 'The guy's looking at a number of years in prison, so I'm not sure we can do anything worse to him,' Young said. Registry Chairman Tom Lawless recently told the Lookout he is interested in pursuing the matter. The registry board subpoenaed Cothren in January 2022 in connection with an investigation into the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC, which was accused of illegal coordination with the campaign of state Rep. Todd Warner in his race against incumbent Republican Rep. Rick Tillis, a political foe of Casada. Warner, whose home and office were raided by FBI agents the same day they hit Casada, Cothren and now-former Rep. Robin Smith in January 2021, defeated Tillis in the 2020 Republican primary. Cothren refused to comply with the subpoena. Warner, who attended the trial several days this month in support of Cothren, is not facing any criminal charges. The registry's decision to subpoena Cothren, Casada and several other people came after a former girlfriend of Cothren's testified that she formed the political action committee at his request so he could run it secretly. She said Cothren, whom she thought she loved at the time, also told her to ignore calls from the registry. The Registry's subpoena for Cothren has been on hold pending the outcome of the federal case. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
