The Lord Lyon

The Court of the Lord Lyon

Scotland’s Heraldic Authority
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Dr Joseph John Morrow CVO CBE QC LLD DL FRSE, The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms

Official Coat of Arms of the Lord Lyon 1673
Dr Morrow was appointed to the office on 17 January 2014 and sworn in before the Lord President of the Court of Session on 27 February 2014. A member of the Faculty of Advocates, Dr Morrow took silk in September 2015. In 2008 he was appointed President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland from which post he retired in 2019. He has previously served as Her Majesty’s Commissioner for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (1999-2006), as a First-tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (2002-2013), and as President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (2010-2014). In 2009 he was appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee, having served as a Labour councillor for the Maryfield ward until that year. He held the positions of Convenor of the Economic Development Committee and Convenor of the Dundee Waterfront Development Board, and was Depute Lord Provost during his time as an elected member. He is the incumbent of the Chapel of Glamis Castle, a former Chancellor of the Diocese of Brechin, and an Honorary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee. Lyon Morrow was created CBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2018 for Services to Mental Health and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2019 and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2024. He was created CVO by King Charles III for services on the Demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Dr Morrow’s personal arms are blazoned: Per fess enhanced Or and Purpure overall all three piles conjoined in point counter-changed, the centre pile charged with a maunch (mauche) and the other two with passion crosses of the first. For crest, he has A dexter hand Or holding a dagger erect Purpure hilted and pomelled Or, and for motto: Deo Volente (‘God Willing’). The supporters are sea- eagles crowned with the crown of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

Armorial Bearings of Dr Joseph Morrow CVO CBE QC LLD DL FRSE

Lord Lyon King of Arms: