She was a Senator of the College of Justice from 2005 until her retirement in 2025, having served as a temporary judge for three years prior.

[3] She is the first woman to serve as Lord Justice Clerk,[6] and at the time of her appointment was one of 9 women out of 31 judges in Scotland.

[4] Lady Dorrian has been involved in the trial of former First Minister, Alex Salmond for sexual misconduct for which he was acquitted.

[9] Blogger and former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, has since been jailed for eight months for providing information in his blog that may allow readers to identify some of the complainers by "jigsaw identification".

[10] This incarceration, wherein Lady Dorrian delivered the "Opinion of the Court",[11] has caused some media attention.