Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907

Options Hearing S

9.12 (1) At the Options Hearing the sheriff shall seek to secure the expeditious progress of the cause by ascertaining from the parties the matters in dispute and information about any other matter referred to in paragraph (3).

(2) It shall be the duty of the parties to provide the sheriff with sufficient information to enable him to conduct the hearing as provided for in this rule.

(3) At the Options Hearing the sheriff shall, except where the cause is ordered to proceed under the procedure in Chapter 10 (additional procedure), close the record and—

(a) appoint the cause to a proof and make such orders as to the extent of proof, the lodging of a joint minute of admissions or agreement, or such other matter as he thinks fit;

(b) after having heard parties and considered any note lodged under rule 22.1 (note of basis of preliminary plea), appoint the cause to a proof before answer and make such orders as to the extent of proof, the lodging of a joint minute of admissions or agreement, or such other matter as he thinks fit; or

(c) after having heard parties and considered any note lodged under rule 22.1, appoint the cause to a debate if satisfied that there is a preliminary matter of law which justifies a debate.

(4) At the Options Hearing the sheriff may, having heard parties—

(a) of his own motion or on the motion of any party, and

(b) on being satisfied that the difficulty or complexity of the cause makes it unsuitable for the procedure under this Chapter,

order that the cause proceed under the procedure in Chapter 10 (additional procedure).

(5) The sheriff may, on cause shown, of his motion or on the motion of any party, allow a continuation of the Options Hearing on one occasion only for a period not exceeding 28 days or to the first suitable court day thereafter.

(6) On closing the record—

(a) where there are no adjustments made since the lodging of the record under rule 9.11.(2), that record shall become the closed record; and

(b) where there are such adjustments, the sheriff may order that a closed record including such adjustments be lodged within 7 days after the date of the interlocutor closing the record.

(7) For the purposes of rules 16.2 (decrees where party in default) and 33.37 (decree by default in family action), an Options Hearing shall be a diet in accordance with those rules.