Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987

80 Courts' powers in relation to offences or misconduct

(1) Where the Court of Session becomes aware that a messenger-at-arms has been convicted by a court of any offence, it may make an order finding that the messenger-at-arms should be suspended from practice for such period as may be specified in the order, or deprived of office.

(2) Where the sheriff principal from whom a sheriff officer holds a commission becomes aware that the sheriff officer has been convicted by a court of any offence, the sheriff principal may make an order suspending the sheriff officer from practice for such period as may be specified in the order, or depriving him of office, in that sheriffdom.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) above are without prejudice to section 4(3)(b) of the [1947 c. 53.] Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; and in those subsections "offence" means any offence of which the officer of court has been convicted before or after he was granted a commission as an officer of court, other than any offence disclosed in his application for such a commission.

(4) Where—

(a) a messenger-at-arms admits in writing that he is guilty of misconduct; or

(b) the Court of Session at the end of disciplinary proceedings under section 79(3)(a) of this Act is satisfied that a messenger-at-arms is guilty of misconduct,

the Court of Session may make one or more of the orders specified in subsection (5) below.

(5) The orders referred to in subsection (4) above are—

(a) an order finding that the messenger-at-arms should be suspended from practice for such period as may be specified in the order, or deprived of office;

(b) an order imposing a fine on the messenger-at-arms not exceeding £2,500 or such sum as may be prescribed in regulations made by the Lord Advocate;

(c) an order censuring the messenger-at-arms;

(d) if the misconduct consists of, or includes, the charging of excessive fees or outlays, an order decerning for repayment by the messenger-at-arms of the fees or outlays, to the extent that they were excessive, to the person who paid them.

(6) Where—

(a) a sheriff officer admits in writing that he is guilty of misconduct; or

(b) the sheriff principal at the end of disciplinary proceedings under section 79(3)(a) of this Act is satisfied that a sheriff officer is guilty of misconduct,

the sheriff principal may make one or more of the orders specified in subsection (7) below.

(7) The orders referred to in subsection (6) above are—

(a) an order suspending the sheriff officer from practice for such period as may be specified in the order, or depriving him of office, in that sheriffdom;

(b) an order in relation to the sheriff officer of a kind mentioned in subsection (5)(b), (c) or (d) above.

(8) Where an officer of court fails to comply with an order under this section imposing a fine on him, the Court of Session or, as the case may be, the sheriff principal may make an order—

(a) decerning for payment of the fine, and an extract of any such order shall contain a warrant in the form prescribed by Act of Sederunt which shall have the same effect as an extract of a decree for payment of money pronounced by the Court of Session; or

(b) of the kind specified in subsection (5)(a) or, as the case may be, (7)(a) above.

(9) Any fine imposed under this section shall be recoverable by the Lord Advocate.