In the same year a commission was chosen to discuss the question of union with England, Oliphant was added as one 'best affected fittest for that eirand' (Reg.
He was chosen, with Thomas Craig, to defend the six ministers in January 1606; but he gave up his brief on the eve of the trial, on the plea, as Balmerino explained, that the king's promise of leniency, provided they acknowledge their offense, not justify their obstinacy (ib.
In November 1610 he appears as a justice of the peace for Perthshire and the stewartries of Strathearn and Menteith (Reg.
[1] He was elevated to the bench in January 1611, in succession to Sir David Lindsay of Edzell, one of the lords-ordinary.
Thereupon the privy council wrote a long letter to the king, in which they declared how popular had been the election of one 'whose bipast cariage is an hes bene onlie forceable to hold him in your Majesteis rememberance' (ib.
Next year (19 June) he was nominated in a royal letter as king's advocate, in succession to Hamilton, who had been appointed clerk of register.
On 9 July following be was admitted of the privy council as lord-advocate, and was nighted by the chancellor in conformity with a mandate from the king.
[1] He played a prominent part in the political stir of the closing years of James's reign; the sederunts of the privy council show that he was present at almost every meeting.
In December 1612 he was one of a select commission of five for the settling of controversies between burgh and landward justices of the peace (ib.
On 17 Dec. 1016 Oliphant was elected a member of the financial committee of the council known as the commissioners for the king's rents (ib.
As kind's advocate he appears in all the great political trials, notably those of Gordon of Gicht and Sir James Macdonald of Islay.
The parliament of 1021 ratified the possession of the family lands to him and his sons James and William in fee (Acts of Parl.
Charles I's proclamation prohibiting the holding of an ordinary seat in the court of session by officers of state and nobles compelled him to leave the bench (February 1020).