Bail, Judicial Appointments etc. (Scotland) Act 2000

Part 1 S Bail

1 Consideration of bail on first appearance S

Before section 23 (bail applications) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.46) (the “1995 Act”), there is inserted—

“22A Consideration of bail on first appearance

(1) On the first occasion on which—

(a) a person accused on petition is brought before the sheriff prior to committal until liberated in due course of law; or

(b) a person charged on complaint with an offence is brought before a judge having jurisdiction to try the offence,

the sheriff or, as the case may be, the judge shall, after giving that person and the prosecutor an opportunity to be heard and within the period specified in subsection (2) below, either admit or refuse to admit that person to bail.

(2) That period is the period of 24 hours beginning with the time when the person accused or charged is brought before the sheriff or judge.

(3) If, by the end of that period, the sheriff or judge has not admitted or refused to admit the person accused or charged to bail, then that person shall be forthwith liberated.

(4) This section applies whether or not the person accused or charged is in custody when that person is brought before the sheriff or judge.”.

2 Bail and liberation where person already in custody S

After section 23 (bail applications) of the 1995 Act there is inserted—

“23A Bail and liberation where person already in custody

(1) A person may be admitted to bail under section 22A or 23 of this Act although in custody—

(a) having been refused bail in respect of another crime or offence; or

(b) serving a sentence of imprisonment.

(2) A decision to admit a person to bail by virtue of subsection (1) above does not liberate the person from the custody mentioned in that subsection.

(3) The liberation under section 22A(3) or 23(7) of this Act of a person who may be admitted to bail by virtue of subsection (1) above does not liberate that person from the custody mentioned in that subsection.

(4) In subsection (1) above, “another crime or offence” means a crime or offence other than that giving rise to the consideration of bail under section 22A or 23 of this Act.”.

3 Removal of restrictions on bail S

(1) In section 24 (bail and bail conditions) of the 1995 Act, in subsection (1), the words “except, subject to subsection (2) below, murder and treason” are repealed.

(2) Section 26 (bail: circumstances where not available) of the 1995 Act is repealed.

4 Removal of restriction on appeals against refusal of bail S

In section 32 (bail appeal) of the 1995 Act, in subsection (1), for the words from the beginning to “offence” there is substituted “ Where, in any case, bail ”.

Part 2 S Judicial appointments

Chapter 1 S Variation of number of Inner House judges and filling of vacancies

5 Variation of number of Inner House judges and filling of vacancies S

In section 2 (composition of court) of the Court of Session Act 1988 (c.36)—

(a) after subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A) The Scottish Ministers may from time to time by order amend subsection (2) above so as to alter or further alter the number of senior judges in the two Divisions.

(2B) The power conferred by subsection (2A) above may be exercised—

(a) in relation only to one; or

(b) differently in relation to each,

of the two Divisions.

(2C) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.

(2D) No order shall be made under this section unless a draft of the instrument containing it has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.”;

(b) in subsection (6), for the words “subsection (7)” there is substituted “ subsections (7) and (8) ”; and

(c) after subsection (7), there is inserted—

“(8) The Scottish Ministers shall not give their consent under subsection (6) above to an appointment filling a vacancy in one of the two Divisions of the Inner House unless they are satisfied that the state of business in the Inner House requires that the vacancy be filled.”.

Chapter 2 S Temporary and part-time sheriffs

6 Abolition of temporary sheriffs S

(1) In section 11 (appointment of temporary sheriffs principal and sheriffs) of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (c.58) (the “1971 Act”), subsection (2) is repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding the coming into force of that repeal—

(a) a temporary sheriff may continue to exercise the jurisdiction and powers of a sheriff for the purposes of any proceedings commenced or other matter which began before such coming into force; and

(b) a temporary sheriff shall, for those purposes and for the purposes of any further proceedings arising out of the proceedings or other matter referred to in paragraph (a) above, be treated as continuing to be a temporary sheriff.

7 Creation of part-time sheriffs S

After section 11 of the 1971 Act there is inserted—

“11A Appointment of part-time sheriffs

(1) The Scottish Ministers may, under this section, appoint persons to act as sheriffs, and persons so appointed shall be known as “part-time sheriffs”.

(2) In making those appointments, the Scottish Ministers shall comply with such requirements as to procedure and consultation as may be prescribed by regulations made by them.

(3) A person shall not be appointed a part-time sheriff unless qualified under section 5(1) of this Act to be appointed to the office of sheriff.

(4) A part-time sheriff shall, without the necessity of receiving a commission in that behalf, be entitled to exercise in every sheriffdom the jurisdiction and powers attaching to the office of sheriff.

(5) The number of persons holding appointments as part-time sheriffs shall not, at any one time, exceed 60 or such other number as may be fixed in substitution by order made by the Scottish Ministers.

(6) A part-time sheriff shall be subject to such instructions, arrangements and other provisions as fall to be made under this Act by the sheriff principal of the sheriffdom in which the part-time sheriff is sitting.

(7) In the performance of their functions under this Act, sheriffs principal shall together have regard to the desirability of securing that every part-time sheriff—

(a) is given the opportunity of sitting on not fewer than 20 days; and

(b) does not sit for more than 100 days,

in each successive period of 12 months beginning with the day of the part-time sheriff’s appointment as such.

(8) The Scottish Ministers shall pay to part-time sheriffs such remuneration and allowances as they determine.

11B Limitation, termination etc. of appointment of part-time sheriffs

(1) An appointment as a part-time sheriff shall, subject to subsections (2) to (4) below, last for 5 years.

(2) A part-time sheriff may resign at any time by giving notice to that effect to the Scottish Ministers.

(3) An appointment of a person as a part-time sheriff shall not extend beyond the day when the person reaches the age of 70.

(4) A part-time sheriff’s appointment shall come to an end upon the part-time sheriff’s being removed from office under section 11C of this Act.

(5) A part-time sheriff whose appointment comes to an end by operation of subsection (1) above may be reappointed and, except in the circumstances set out in subsection (6) below, shall be reappointed.

(6) The circumstances mentioned in subsection (5) above are that—

(a) the part-time sheriff has declined that reappointment;

(b) the part-time sheriff is aged 69 or over;

(c) a sheriff principal has made a recommendation to the Scottish Ministers against the reappointment;

(d) the part-time sheriff has not sat for a total of 50 or more days in the preceding five year period; or

(e) the Scottish Ministers have, since the part-time sheriff was last appointed, made an order under section 11A(5) of this Act reducing the number of persons who may hold appointment as part-time sheriffs.

(7) A part-time sheriff whose appointment comes to an end by resignation under subsection (2) above may be reappointed.

(8) The provisions of section 11A and this section of this Act apply to a reappointment under subsections (5) and (7) above as they apply to an appointment.

(9) A part-time sheriff who is a solicitor in practice shall not carry out any function as a part-time sheriff in a sheriff court district in which his or her main place of business as such solicitor is situated.

11C Removal of part-time sheriffs from office

(1) A part-time sheriff may be removed from office by and only by order of the tribunal constituted by and under subsection (3) below (“the tribunal”).

(2) The tribunal may order the removal from office of a part-time sheriff only if, after investigation carried out at the request of the Scottish Ministers, it finds that the part-time sheriff is unfit for office by reason of inability, neglect of duty or misbehaviour.

(3) The tribunal shall consist of the following three members, who shall be appointed by the Lord President of the Court of Session—

(a) either a Senator of the College of Justice or a sheriff principal (who shall preside);

(b) a person who is, and has been for at least ten years, legally qualified within the meaning of section 5(1) of this Act; and

(c) one other person.

(4) Regulations, made by the Scottish Ministers—

(a) may make provision enabling the tribunal, at any time during an investigation, to suspend a part-time sheriff from office and providing as to the effect and duration of such suspension; and

(b) shall make such further provision as respects the tribunal as the Scottish Ministers consider necessary or expedient, including provision for the procedure to be followed by and before it.

11D Regulations and orders under sections 11A and 11C

(1) Regulations under section 11A or section 11C and orders under section 11A of this Act shall be made by statutory instrument.

(2) No such regulations or order shall be made unless laid in draft before, and approved by a resolution of, the Scottish Parliament.”.

Chapter 3 S Justices of the peace

8 Appointment of justices S

F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 8-10 repealed (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 27(a); S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4-14) (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)

9 Removal, restriction of functions and suspension of justices S

F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Ss. 8-10 repealed (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 27(a); S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4-14) (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)

10 Restriction of functions of justices who are councillors etc. S

F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 8-10 repealed (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 27(a); S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4-14) (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)

Part 3 S Miscellaneous and general provisions

11 Abolition of prosecutions on behalf of or by local authorities S

F4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 11 repealed (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for specified Sheriffdoms and otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 27(b); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4-6); S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2

12 Minor and consequential amendments S

The schedule to this Act, which makes minor amendments and amendments consequential on the provisions of this Act, has effect.

13 Short title S

This Act may be cited as the Bail, Judicial Appointments etc. (Scotland) Act 2000.