Section 180 Leave to appeal against conviction etc.

The decision whether to grant leave to appeal for the purposes of section 175(2)(a) or (d) of this Act shall be made by F1an Appeal Sheriff of the F2Sheriff Appeal Court who shall—

The documents referred to in subsection (1) above are—

A warrant granted under subsection (1)(b)(ii) above shall not take effect until the expiry of the period of 14 days mentioned in subsection (4) below F4(and if that period is extended under subsection (4A) below before the period being extended expires, until the expiry of the period as so extended) without an application to the F5Sheriff Appeal Court for leave to appeal having been lodged by the appellant under F6subsection (4) below.

Where leave to appeal is refused under subsection (1) above the appellant may, within 14 days of intimation under subsection (10) below, apply to the F7Sheriff Appeal Court for leave to appeal.

The Sheriff Appeal Court may, on cause shown, extend the period of 14 days mentioned in subsection (4) above, or that period as extended under this subsection, whether or not the period to be extended has expired (and if that period of 14 days has expired, whether or not it expired before section 25(1) of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6) came into force).

In deciding an application under subsection (4) above the F9Sheriff Appeal Court shall—

The question whether to grant leave to appeal under subsection (1) or (5) above shall be considered and determined in chambers without the parties being present.

Comments in writing made under subsection (1)(a) or (5)(a) above may, without prejudice to the generality of that provision, specify the arguable grounds of appeal (whether or not they are contained in the stated case) on the basis of which leave to appeal is granted.

Where the arguable grounds of appeal are specified by virtue of subsection (7) above it shall not, except by leave of the F10Sheriff Appeal Court on cause shown, be competent for the appellant to found any aspect of his appeal on any ground of appeal contained in the stated case but not so specified.

Any application by the appellant for the leave of the F11Sheriff Appeal Court under subsection (8) above—

The F16Sheriff Appeal Court may, on cause shown, extend the periods of 14 days mentioned in subsection (9) above.

The F17Clerk of the Sheriff Appeal Court shall forthwith intimate—

to the appellant or his solicitor and to the F18prosecutor.