OpenLegislation

Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014

2014 asp 18 · Enacted 10 November 2014 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 13 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 113excluded by 2011 asp 1, s. 164(2B) (as substituted)Children (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 27(4)(b)
s. 113excluded by 2011 asp 1, s. 165(2B) (as substituted)Children (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 27(5)(b)
s. 43(3)(c)words insertedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 29(5)
sch. 1 para. 5A and cross-headinginsertedFemale Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 9
sch. 1 para. 2(g)(h)insertedDomestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 s. 15(8)
sch. 1 para. 4B and cross-headinginsertedVictims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 5 para. 3(3)
s. 21(3A)insertedVictims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 5 para. 3(2)
s. 39(3A)insertedJudicial Factors (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 2 para. 9
s. 95(4)(c)substitutedRegulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 3 para. 6(2)
s. 103(2)(m)(ii)substitutedRegulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 3 para. 6(3)
s. 104(2)(m)(ii)substitutedRegulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 3 para. 6(4)
s. 21-25appliedCrofting and Scottish Land Court Act 2026 sch. 1 para. 14
Sch. 1 para. 13 and cross-headinginsertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 230(3)

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the sheriff courts; to establish a Sheriff Appeal Court; to make provision about civil court procedure; to make provision about appeals in civil proceedings; to make provision about appeals in criminal proceedings; to make provision about judges of the Court of Session; to make provision about the Scottish Land Court; to make provision about justice of the peace courts; to rename the Scottish Court Service and give it functions in relation to tribunals; to provide for assistants to the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland; and for connected purposes.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 7th October 2014 and received Royal Assent on 10th November 2014

Contents

  1. Part 1: SHERIFF COURTS
  2. Chapter 1: SHERIFFDOMS, SHERIFF COURT DISTRICTS AND SHERIFF COURTS
  3. 1Sheriffdoms, sheriff court districts and sheriff courts
  4. 2Power to alter sheriffdoms, sheriff court districts and sheriff courts
  5. Chapter 2: JUDICIARY OF THE SHERIFFDOMS
  6. Permanent and full-time judiciary
  7. 3Sheriffs principal
  8. 4Sheriffs
  9. 5Summary sheriffs
  10. Temporary and part-time judiciary
  11. 6Temporary sheriff principal
  12. 7Temporary sheriff principal: further provision
  13. 8Part-time sheriffs
  14. 9Reappointment of part-time sheriffs
  15. 10Part-time summary sheriffs
  16. 11Reappointment of part-time summary sheriffs
  17. Re-employment of former holders of certain judicial offices
  18. 12Re-employment of former judicial office holders
  19. 13Re-employment of former judicial office holders: further provision
  20. Qualification and disqualification
  21. 14Qualification for appointment
  22. 15Disqualification from practice, etc.
  23. Remuneration and expenses
  24. 16Remuneration
  25. 17Expenses
  26. Leave of absence
  27. 18Leave of absence
  28. Residence
  29. 19Place of residence
  30. Cessation of appointment
  31. 20Cessation of appointment of judicial officers
  32. Fitness for office
  33. 21Tribunal to consider fitness for office
  34. 22Tribunal investigations: suspension from office
  35. 23Further provision about tribunals
  36. 24Tribunal report
  37. 25Removal from office
  38. Honorary sheriffs Not yet in force
  39. 26Abolition of the office of honorary sheriff Not yet in force
  40. Chapter 3: ORGANISATION OF BUSINESS
  41. Sheriff principal's general responsibilities
  42. 27Sheriff principal's responsibility for efficient disposal of business in sheriff courts
  43. 28Sheriff principal's power to fix sittings of sheriff courts
  44. 29Lord President's power to exercise functions under sections 27 and 28
  45. Deployment of judiciary
  46. 30Power to authorise a sheriff principal to act in another sheriffdom
  47. 31Power to direct a sheriff or summary sheriff to act in another sheriffdom
  48. 32Power to re-allocate sheriffs principal, sheriffs and summary sheriffs between sheriffdoms
  49. 33Allocation of sheriffs and summary sheriffs to sheriff court districts
  50. Judicial specialisation
  51. 34Determination of categories of case for purposes of judicial specialisation
  52. 35Designation of specialist judiciary
  53. 36Allocation of business to specialist judiciary
  54. 37Saving for existing powers to provide for judicial specialisation
  55. Chapter 4: COMPETENCE AND JURISDICTION
  56. Sheriffs: civil competence and jurisdiction
  57. 38Jurisdiction and competence of sheriffs
  58. 39Exclusive competence
  59. 40Territorial jurisdiction
  60. 41Power to confer all-Scotland jurisdiction for specified cases
  61. 42All-Scotland jurisdiction: further provision
  62. 43Jurisdiction over persons, etc.
  63. Summary sheriffs: civil and criminal competence and jurisdiction
  64. 44Summary sheriff: civil competence and jurisdiction
  65. 45Summary sheriff: criminal competence and jurisdiction
  66. Part 2: THE SHERIFF APPEAL COURT
  67. Chapter 1: ESTABLISHMENT AND ROLE
  68. 46The Sheriff Appeal Court
  69. 47Jurisdiction and competence
  70. 48Status of decisions of the Sheriff Appeal Court in precedent
  71. Chapter 2: APPEAL SHERIFFS
  72. 49Sheriffs principal to be Appeal Sheriffs
  73. 50Appointment of sheriffs as Appeal Sheriffs
  74. 51Re-employment of former Appeal Sheriffs
  75. 52Expenses
  76. 53Temporary provision
  77. Chapter 3: ORGANISATION OF BUSINESS
  78. President and Vice President
  79. 54President and Vice President of the Sheriff Appeal Court
  80. 55President and Vice President: incapacity and suspension
  81. Disposal of business
  82. 56President's responsibility for efficient disposal of business
  83. Sittings
  84. 57Sittings of the Sheriff Appeal Court
  85. 58Rehearing of pending case by a larger Court
  86. Chapter 4: ADMINISTRATION
  87. Clerks
  88. 59Clerk of the Sheriff Appeal Court
  89. 60Deputy Clerks of the Sheriff Appeal Court
  90. 61Clerk and Deputy Clerks: further provision
  91. Records
  92. 62Records of the Sheriff Appeal Court
  93. Part 3: CIVIL PROCEDURE
  94. Chapter 1: SHERIFF COURT
  95. Civil jury trials
  96. 63Civil jury trials in an all-Scotland sheriff court
  97. 64Selection of the jury
  98. 65Application to allow the jury to view property
  99. 66Discharge or death of juror during trial
  100. 67Trial to proceed despite objection to opinion and direction of the sheriff
  101. 68Return of verdict
  102. 69Application for new trial
  103. 70Restrictions on granting a new trial
  104. 71Verdict subject to opinion of the Sheriff Appeal Court
  105. Simple procedure
  106. 72Simple procedure
  107. 73Proceedings in an all-Scotland sheriff court
  108. 74Proceedings for aliment of small amounts under simple procedure Not yet in force
  109. 75Rule-making: matters to be taken into consideration
  110. 76Service of documents
  111. 77Evidence in simple procedure cases
  112. 78Transfer of cases to simple procedure
  113. 79Proceedings in an all-Scotland sheriff court: transfer to simple procedure
  114. 80Transfer of cases from simple procedure
  115. 81Expenses in simple procedure cases
  116. 82Appeals from simple procedure cases
  117. 83Transitional provision: summary causes Not yet in force
  118. Interdicts and other orders: effect outside sheriffdom
  119. 84Interdicts having effect in more than one sheriffdom
  120. 85Proceedings for breach of an extended interdict
  121. 86Power to enable sheriff to make orders having effect outside sheriffdom
  122. Execution of deeds relating to heritage
  123. 87Power of sheriff to order sheriff clerk to execute deed relating to heritage
  124. Interim orders
  125. 88Interim orders
  126. Chapter 2: COURT OF SESSION
  127. 89Judicial review
  128. 90Interim orders
  129. 91Warrants for ejection
  130. Chapter 3: REMIT OF CASES BETWEEN COURTS
  131. 92Remit of cases to the Court of Session
  132. 93Remit of cases from the Court of Session
  133. 94Remit of cases to the Scottish Land Court
  134. Chapter 4: LAY REPRESENTATION FOR NON-NATURAL PERSONS
  135. 95Key defined terms
  136. 96Lay representation in simple procedure cases
  137. 97Lay representation in other proceedings
  138. 98Lay representation: supplementary provision
  139. Chapter 5: JURY SERVICE
  140. 99Jury service
  141. Chapter 6: VEXATIOUS PROCEEDINGS
  142. 100Vexatious litigation orders
  143. 101Vexatious litigation orders: further provision
  144. 102Power to make orders in relation to vexatious behaviour
  145. Part 4: PROCEDURE AND FEES
  146. Procedure
  147. 103Power to regulate procedure etc. in the Court of Session
  148. 104Power to regulate procedure etc. in the sheriff court and the Sheriff Appeal Court
  149. Fees of solicitors etc.
  150. 105Power to regulate fees in the Court of Session
  151. 106Power to regulate fees in the sheriff court and the Sheriff Appeal Court
  152. Court fees
  153. 107Power to provide for fees for SCTS, court clerks and other officers
  154. Sanction for counsel
  155. 108Sanction for counsel in the sheriff court and Sheriff Appeal Court
  156. Part 5: CIVIL APPEALS
  157. Appeals to the Sheriff Appeal Court
  158. 109Abolition of appeal from a sheriff to the sheriff principal
  159. 110Appeal from a sheriff to the Sheriff Appeal Court
  160. 111Sheriff Appeal Court's powers of disposal in appeals
  161. 112Remit of appeal from the Sheriff Appeal Court to the Court of Session
  162. Appeals to the Court of Session
  163. 113Appeal from the Sheriff Appeal Court to the Court of Session
  164. 114Appeal from the sheriff principal to the Court of Session
  165. 115Appeals: granting of leave or permission and assessment of grounds of appeal
  166. Effect of appeal
  167. 116Effect of appeal
  168. Appeals to the Supreme Court
  169. 117Appeals to the Supreme Court
  170. Part 6: CRIMINAL APPEALS
  171. Appeals from summary criminal proceedings
  172. 118Appeals to the Sheriff Appeal Court from summary criminal proceedings
  173. 119Appeals from the Sheriff Appeal Court to the High Court
  174. 120Power to refer points of law for the opinion of the High Court
  175. 121References by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
  176. Bail appeals
  177. 122Bail appeals
  178. Part 7: JUDGES OF THE COURT OF SESSION
  179. 123Appointment of Court of Session judges, etc.
  180. 124Payment of salaries and allowances of Court of Session judges
  181. 125Expenses
  182. Part 8: SCOTTISH LAND COURT
  183. 126Scottish Land Court: remuneration and expenses
  184. Part 9: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS
  185. 127Establishing, relocating and disestablishing justice of the peace courts
  186. 128Abolition of the office of stipendiary magistrate
  187. 129Summary sheriffs to sit in justice of the peace courts
  188. Part 10: THE SCOTTISH COURTS AND TRIBUNALS SERVICE
  189. 130The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
  190. Part 11: THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS BOARD FOR SCOTLAND
  191. 131Assistants to the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
  192. Part 12: GENERAL
  193. 132Modifications of enactments
  194. 133Subordinate legislation
  195. 134References to “sheriff”
  196. 135Definition of “family proceedings”
  197. 136Interpretation
  198. 137Ancillary provision
  199. 138Commencement
  200. 139Short title
  201. Schedule 1: CIVIL PROCEEDINGS, ETC. IN RELATION TO WHICH SUMMARY SHERIFF HAS COMPETENCE
  202. Family proceedings
  203. 1Paragraph 1
  204. Domestic abuse proceedings
  205. 2Paragraph 2
  206. Adoption proceedings
  207. 3Paragraph 3
  208. Children's hearings proceedings
  209. 4Paragraph 4
  210. Proceedings relating to children under the age of criminal responsibility
  211. 4AParagraph 4A
  212. Forced marriage proceedings
  213. 5Paragraph 5
  214. Warrants and interim orders
  215. 6Paragraph 6
  216. Diligence proceedings
  217. 7Paragraph 7
  218. 8Paragraph 8
  219. 9Paragraph 9
  220. 10Paragraph 10
  221. Extension of time to pay debts
  222. 11Paragraph 11
  223. Simple procedure
  224. 12Paragraph 12
  225. Schedule 2: APPEAL SHERIFFS: TEMPORARY PROVISION
  226. The transitional period
  227. 1Paragraph 1
  228. Appointment of Senators of the College of Justice to act as Appeal Sheriffs
  229. 2Paragraph 2
  230. Tenure
  231. 3Paragraph 3
  232. Savings
  233. 4Paragraph 4
  234. Schedule 3: TRANSFER OF SUMMARY CRIMINAL APPEAL JURISDICTION TO THE SHERIFF APPEAL COURT
  235. 1Paragraph 1
  236. 2Paragraph 2
  237. 3Paragraph 3
  238. 4Paragraph 4
  239. 5Paragraph 5
  240. 6Paragraph 6
  241. 7Paragraph 7
  242. 8Paragraph 8
  243. 9Paragraph 9
  244. 10Paragraph 10
  245. 11Paragraph 11
  246. 12Paragraph 12
  247. 13Paragraph 13
  248. 14Paragraph 14
  249. 15Paragraph 15
  250. 16Paragraph 16
  251. 17Paragraph 17
  252. 18Paragraph 18
  253. 19Paragraph 19
  254. 20Paragraph 20
  255. 21Paragraph 21
  256. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
  257. 23Paragraph 23
  258. 24Paragraph 24
  259. 25Paragraph 25 Not yet in force
  260. 26Paragraph 26
  261. Schedule 4: THE SCOTTISH COURTS AND TRIBUNALS SERVICE
  262. Part 1: CONFERRAL OF ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS ETC. IN RELATION TO TRIBUNALS
  263. Modification of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
  264. 1Paragraph 1
  265. Part 2: TRANSITIONAL PROVISION
  266. Transfer of staff
  267. 2Paragraph 2
  268. Existing tribunals
  269. 3Paragraph 3
  270. Part 3: CONSEQUENTIAL REPEALS, ETC.
  271. Lands Tribunal Act 1949
  272. 4Paragraph 4
  273. Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
  274. 5Paragraph 5
  275. Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
  276. 6Paragraph 6
  277. Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
  278. 7Paragraph 7
  279. Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014
  280. 8Paragraph 8
  281. Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014
  282. 9Paragraph 9
  283. Schedule 5: MODIFICATIONS OF ENACTMENTS
  284. Part 1: SHERIFF COURTS
  285. Promissory Oaths Act 1868
  286. 1Paragraph 1
  287. Promissory Oaths Act 1871
  288. 2Paragraph 2
  289. Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1876
  290. 3Paragraph 3
  291. Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907
  292. 4Paragraph 4
  293. Sheriff Courts and Legal Officers (Scotland) Act 1927
  294. 5Paragraph 5
  295. Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971
  296. 6Paragraph 6
  297. Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982
  298. 7Paragraph 7
  299. Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993
  300. 8Paragraph 8
  301. Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
  302. 9Paragraph 9
  303. Part 2: SHERIFF APPEAL COURT
  304. Sheriff Courts and Legal Officers (Scotland) Act 1927
  305. 10Paragraph 10
  306. Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937
  307. 11Paragraph 11
  308. Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1972
  309. 12Paragraph 12
  310. Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982
  311. 13Paragraph 13
  312. Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986
  313. 14Paragraph 14
  314. Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
  315. 15Paragraph 15
  316. Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
  317. 16Paragraph 16
  318. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
  319. 17Paragraph 17
  320. Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013
  321. 18Paragraph 18
  322. Part 3: CIVIL JURY TRIALS
  323. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980
  324. 19Paragraph 19
  325. Part 4: SIMPLE PROCEDURE
  326. Heritable Securities (Scotland) Act 1894 Not yet in force
  327. 20Paragraph 20 Not yet in force
  328. Sheriff Courts (Civil Jurisdiction and Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1963 Not yet in force
  329. 21Paragraph 21 Not yet in force
  330. Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 Not yet in force
  331. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
  332. Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986
  333. 23Paragraph 23
  334. Part 5: JUDICIAL REVIEW
  335. Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014
  336. 24Paragraph 24
  337. Part 6: REMIT OF CASES BETWEEN COURTS
  338. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985
  339. 25Paragraph 25
  340. Part 7: REGULATION OF PROCEDURE AND FEES
  341. Courts of Law Fees (Scotland) Act 1895
  342. 26Paragraph 26
  343. Vexatious Actions (Scotland) Act 1898
  344. 27Paragraph 27
  345. Execution of Diligence (Scotland) Act 1926
  346. 28Paragraph 28
  347. Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1972
  348. 29Paragraph 29
  349. Court of Session Act 1988
  350. 30Paragraph 30
  351. Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013
  352. 31Paragraph 31
  353. Part 8: CIVIL APPEALS
  354. Court of Session Act 1988
  355. 32Paragraph 32
  356. Constitutional Reform Act 2005
  357. 33Paragraph 33
  358. Part 9: JUDGES OF THE COURT OF SESSION
  359. Promissory Oaths Act 1868
  360. 34Paragraph 34
  361. Administration of Justice Act 1973
  362. 35Paragraph 35
  363. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985
  364. 36Paragraph 36
  365. Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990
  366. 37Paragraph 37
  367. Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
  368. 38Paragraph 38
  369. Part 10: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS
  370. Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
  371. 39Paragraph 39
  372. Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007
  373. 40Paragraph 40
  374. Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
  375. 41Paragraph 41
  376. Part 11: MISCELLANEOUS
  377. Judicial Offices (Salaries, &c.) Act 1952
  378. 42Paragraph 42
  379. Court of Session Act 1988
  380. 43Paragraph 43
  381. Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
  382. 44Paragraph 44
  383. Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
  384. 45Paragraph 45