Five judges will hear the Lockerbie appeal at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands. Lord Cullen, who is one of Scotland's most high profile legal figures, will be the lead judge.

Click here to read a profile of Lord Cullen.

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Lord Kirkwood, who was born Ian Candlish Kirkwood, became a judge in 1987 and sits in the Second Division of the Inner House.

The Inner House mostly acts as a court of civil appeal and is split into two divisions, each with four judges.

He is a graduate of the Universities of Edinburgh (MA, LLB) and Michigan, (LLM).

He was Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Home and Health Department in 1963 after being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1957.

Standing Juniors are appointed by the Lord Advocate to advise the represent government departments.

Lord Kirkwood, who is a former international chess player, served on the Parole Board for Scotland from 1994 to 1997.

Prior to his appointment as a judge he was a Chairman of Medical Appeals Tribunals.

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Lord Osborne, born Kenneth Hilton Osborne, is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and was appointed as a judge in 1990.

He became an advocate in 1962 and was Standing Junior Counsel to the Ministry of Defence (Navy) between 1974 and 1976.

Lord Osborne was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1976 and served as an Advocate Depute between 1982 and 1984.

He has also served on VAT Tribunals, Medical Appeals tribunals and the Disciplinary Committee of the Potato Marketing Board.

Lord Osborne has been chairman of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland since 1990 and was a member of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland from 1985 to 1987.

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Lord Macfadyen, born Donald James Dobbie Macfadyen, was appointed as a judge in 1995 after serving for a year as a temporary judge.

A graduate of Glasgow University (LLB), he spends part of his time in the specialist court for commercial actions.

He became an advocate in 1969 and was Standing Junior Counsel to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland (1977-79) and the Scottish Home and Health Department (1982-83).

Lord Macfadyen, who was Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates between 1992 and 1995, served as an Advocate Depute from 1979 to 1982 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983.

He was counsel to the inquiry into the removal of children from Orkney which sat in 1991 and 1992.

Lord Macfadyen has also served as a Chairman of Medical Appeal Tribunals.

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Lord Nimmo Smith, born William Austin Nimmo Smith, was appointed as a judge in 1996 after a year as a temporary judge.

He is a graduate of the Universities of Oxford (BA, Balliol College) and Edinburgh (LLB) and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1969.

Lord Nimmo Smith is the Insolvency Judge in Scotland and hears proceedings for the winding up of companies and related matters. He is also one of the Scottish intellectual property judges.

He has been involved with the Medical Appeal Tribunal, Vaccine Damage Tribunals and the Scottish Law Commission.

He was the author of the report about the Monklands Inquiry and he is involved with the Cockburn Association.

Lord Nimmo Smith was Standing Junior Counsel to the Department of Employment and he was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1982. He has also served as an advocate depute.