 In 1678 he was appointed a member of the Scottish Privy Council and supported Lord Lauderdale's policy of giving up the disaffected western shires of Scotland to highland raids, before joining Hamilton's faction in opposition to Lauderdale.After Lauderdale's retirement in 1680 he was one of the Committee of Seven which managed Scottish affairs.He was appointed Lord Justice General in 1682 and an Extraordinary Lord of Session on 16 November the same year.