Lord Bonomy was appointed a judge in January 1997. From 1998 until 2004 he also held office as a Surveillance Commissioner. Between June 2004 and August 2009 he served as a judge of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
Prior to his appointment to the Bench, Lord Bonomy was a solicitor in litigation-oriented practice (1970 - 1983), an advocate (1984 -1993) and Queen's Coounsel (1993 - 1996}. He also served as an Advocate Depute between 1990 and 1993 and Home Advocate Depute from 1993 until 1996.
He is an honorary graduate (LL.D) of the University of Strathclyde.