James Alastair Taylor (21 February 1951 - 9 March 2021[1]) was sheriff principal of the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin.

Taylor was born in Inverness and educated at Nairn Academy and the University of Aberdeen (B.Sc., LL.B.).

In 1988, he moved again, to be a partner at McGrigor Donald in Glasgow, being promoted to head of litigation in 1992.

He was promoted to Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin in 2005, serving in that position until 2011.

He was a keen golfer, and a member of Nairn, the Royal Aberdeen and Glasgow Golf Clubs.