Charges against a Dundee sheriff accused of sexual misconduct have been dropped, the Crown Office has confirmed.
Jack Brown, who lives near Dundee, was suspended in January after allegations about his behaviour were made to the police.
He was arrested and charged several days later.
But the Crown Office has now confirmed the 59-year-old, who sits in Aberdeen, will not face any further criminal proceedings although he remains suspended from the Bench.
A spokesman said the decision followed a “full and careful consideration” of the facts of the case.
He added: “The Procurator Fiscal deals with every case on its own individual facts and circumstances and will take action where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.
“Following full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of this case, Crown Counsel instructed that there should be no criminal proceedings at this time.”
The sexual misconduct allegation was first levied against the sheriff in November.
It is understood it was made by a Crown Office employee, and then reported to the police by a manager.
Following Sheriff Brown’s suspension, a commission was set up to look into the case, presided over by Lord Bracadale, who was the senior prosecutor in the 2000 Lockerbie trial at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands.
Prior to his suspension, Sheriff Brown had been working at the High Court in Aberdeen.
He was appointed to the city’s sheriffdom in 2016.
After graduating from Dundee University, he trained with Dundee City Council then worked at J&J Hunter before becoming a partner at Shaw & Co.
He set up his own practice, Jack Brown & Co, in Dundee in 1996.
He was appointed as a solicitor advocate in 2003 and has been a sheriff since 2005.
A Judicial Office for Scotland spokesperson said: “The suspension from office of Sheriff Jack Brown presently remains in place.”
