Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980

8 After section 236 there shall be inserted the following sections—

“236A Judge’s report.

“236A (1) As soon as is reasonably practicable afterhis receipt of the copy note of appeal sent to him under section 233(1) of this Act, the judge who presided at the trial shall furnish the Clerk of Justiciary with a report in writing giving the judge’s opinion on the case generally and on the grounds contained in the note of appeal ; and the Clerk of Justiciary shall send a copy of the report to the convicted person or his solicitor, to the Crown Agent, and, in a case referred under section 263(1) this Act, to the Secretary of State.

(2) Where the judge’s report is not furnished as mentioned in subsection (1) above, the High Court may call for such report to be furnished within such period as it may specify or, if it thinks fit, hear and determine the appeal without such report.

(3) Subject to subsection (1) above, the report of the judge shall be available only to the High Court and the parties.

236B Computation of periods.

236B (1) Where the last day of any period mentioned in sections 231(1) and 233(1) of this Act falls on a day which the office of the Clerk of Justiciary is closed, such period shall extend to and include the next day on which such office is open.

(2) Any period mentioned in section 231(1) or 233(1) of this Act may be extended at any time by the High Court in respect of any convicted person ;and application for such extension may be made under this subsection and shall be in as nearly as may be the form prescribed by Act of Adjournal under this Act.

236C Signing of Documents

Any intimation of intention to appeal note of appeal or application in terms of section 236B(2) of this Act shall be signed by the convicted person or by his counsel or solicitor.”