# Act of Adjournal (Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 Amendment) (Affirmations and Oaths) 2026, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Act of Adjournal)
This Act of Adjournal makes various amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 (“the 1996 Rules”) in connection with affirmations and oaths.
Paragraph 2(2), 2(3)(b) and schedule 2 insert a new Rule 14.3A, and associated Forms 14.3A-A and 14.3A-B, into the 1996 Rules. These changes make provision for the oath or affirmation which a juror’s communication supporter must take, in consequence of section 64 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 (“the 2025 Act”). Section 64 of the 2025 Act inserts a new section 88A into the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Section 88A creates the role of a juror’s communication supporter, to assist any jurors who are physically disabled.
Paragraph 2(3)(a) and schedule 1 substitute Form 14.3-B. This changes the form of the affirmation which jurors, who decide to affirm, must take. In consequence of changes made to section 6 of the Oaths Act 1978 (c. 19) by section 63 of the 2025 Act, the form of the affirmation is changed so jurors who decide to affirm will do so collectively, rather than individually.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2026/99/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-adjournal-criminal-procedure-rules-1996-amendment-affirmations-and-oaths-2026/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.