Power of court to adjourn cases
275.Paragraph 23 makes a series of temporary modifications to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 concerning the power of the court to adjourn cases.
276.Sub-paragraph (2) modifies section 145, which provides the court with a power to adjourn a summary case at first calling for inquiry into the case, or for any other cause it considers reasonable for such period as it considers appropriate. It removes subsection 145(3) which provides that, where the accused has been remanded on bail or ordained to appear, no single period of adjournment shall exceed 28 days. The effect of this is that the court can adjourn a hearing of such a case for such a period as the court considers appropriate, without this limitation.
277.Sub-paragraph (3) modifies section 145A, which provides the court with a power to adjourn a case at first calling in a summary case where the accused is not present, to allow the accused to appear in answer to the complaint, or time for inquiry into the case, or for any other cause the court considers reasonable. It removes section 145A(3) which provides that no single period of adjournment shall exceed 28 days. The effect of this is that the court can adjourn a hearing of such a case for such a period as the court considers appropriate, without this limitation.