Interpretation: proceedings and partiesU.K.
2.—(1) Unless otherwise stated, any reference in these Rules to proceedings is to—
(a)preliminary proceedings,
(b)trial proceedings,
(c)sentencing proceedings, F1...
(d)ancillary proceedings [F2; and
(e)variation proceedings]
and does not include the exercise of any power of the court otherwise than at a hearing.
(2) In these Rules—
“activation order” means—
an order under paragraph 8(2)(a) or (b) of Schedule 12 to the 2003 Act (activation of suspended sentence of imprisonment); or
an order under section 214(3) (reactivation of detention and training order);
“activation proceedings” means proceedings for the making of an activation order, but does not include sentencing proceedings in which the court has power to make such an order;
“ancillary proceedings” means proceedings under any provision of Part 15;
“community order proceedings” means any proceedings under Chapter 1 of Part 15;
[F3“domestic abuse” has the same meaning as in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021;]
“preliminary proceedings” means any proceedings of the court held for the purpose of—
the court making its decision in accordance with section 279 (consideration of trial by Court Martial);
allowing the defendant to exercise his right to elect trial by the Court Martial;
arraigning a defendant on a charge to be tried in the trial proceedings; or
giving directions, orders or rulings for the purpose of the trial proceedings;
“
”, in relation to preliminary proceedings, means—trial proceedings in respect of any charge to which the preliminary proceedings relate;
any further preliminary proceedings in relation to such trial proceedings; and
any sentencing proceedings in respect of any offence found proved in such trial proceedings, or as respects which the offender pleads guilty in the preliminary proceedings or related proceedings;
“sentencing proceedings” means proceedings for the sentencing of a person convicted by the court on a plea of guilty or in trial proceedings [F4and does not include variation proceedings];
“trial proceedings” means proceedings for the trial of a charge by the court, and does not include [F5sentencing proceedings or variation proceedings;]
[F6“variation proceedings” means proceedings under Part 14A.]
(3) References in these Rules to a party to any proceedings are to—
(a)a person to whom the proceedings relate;
(b)the Director; and
(c)where the proceedings are for the hearing of an application (and the applicant is not a person to whom the proceedings relate), the applicant.
(4) References in these Rules to a person to whom proceedings relate are to—
(a)in the case of preliminary or trial proceedings, a defendant;
(b)in the case of sentencing proceedings, an offender who falls to be sentenced in the proceedings;
(c)in the case of activation proceedings, the offender in respect of whom the court has power to make an activation order in the proceedings;
(d)in the case of community order proceedings, the offender in respect of whom the overseas community order was made;
(e)in the case of a hearing of any other application (other than community order proceedings), the applicant;
(f)in the case of a hearing under rule 108 (certification of contempt of court), the person whose offence the court is to consider certifying.
[F7(g)in the case of variation proceedings, an offender in respect of whom a sentence which falls to be varied has been passed.]
(5) In these Rules—
“defendant” means a person against whom a charge allocated for Service Civilian Court trial has been brought;
“the Director” means the Director of Service Prosecutions.
Textual Amendments
F1Word in rule 2 omitted (13.11.2023) by virtue of The Armed Forces (Amendment of Court Rules) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1097), rules 1(2), 3(a)
F2Rule 2(1)(e) and word inserted (13.11.2023) by The Armed Forces (Amendment of Court Rules) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1097), rules 1(2), 3(b)
F3Words in rule 2(2) inserted (4.7.2022) by The Armed Forces (Service Court Rules) (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/605), rules 1(2), 16
F4Words in rule 2(2) inserted (13.11.2023) by The Armed Forces (Amendment of Court Rules) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1097), rules 1(2), 3(c)(i)
F5Words in rule 2(2) substituted (13.11.2023) by The Armed Forces (Amendment of Court Rules) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1097), rules 1(2), 3(c)(ii)
F6Words in rule 2(2) inserted (13.11.2023) by The Armed Forces (Amendment of Court Rules) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1097), rules 1(2), 3(c)(iii)
F7Rule 2(4)(g) inserted (13.11.2023) by The Armed Forces (Amendment of Court Rules) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/1097), rules 1(2), 3(d)