(1)This section shall apply to criminal legal aid in connection with an appeal against conviction, sentence [F1, other disposal] or acquittal in criminal proceedings [F2other than an appeal in relation to which section 22(1)(dc) of this Act applies].
(2)Subject to regulations made under section 21(2) of this Act criminal legal aid to which this section applies shall be available on an application made to the Board if the Board is satisfied—
(a)subject to subsection (4) below, [F3the Board is satisfied] after consideration of the financial circumstances of the applicant, that the expenses of the appeal cannot be met without undue hardship to the applicant or his dependants;
[F4(b)in the case of an appeal under section 106(1) or 175(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, leave to appeal is granted; and
(c)in the case of an appeal under any other provision of that Act, where the applicant is the appellant, the Board is satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case it is in the interests of justice that the applicant should receive criminal legal aid.]
[F5(2A)Where the Board has refused an application for criminal legal aid on the ground that it is not satisfied as mentioned in subsection (2)(c) above the High Court may, at any time prior to the disposal of an appeal, whether or not on application made to it, notwithstanding such refusal determine that it is in the interests of justice that the applicant should receive criminal legal aid in connection with the appeal, and the Board shall forthwith make such legal aid available to him.]
(3)The Board may require a person receiving criminal legal aid under this section to comply with such conditions as it considers expedient to enable it to satisfy itself from time to time that it is reasonable for him to continue to receive criminal legal aid.
(4)Subsection (2)(a) above does not apply where criminal legal aid was made available under section 23 or 24 of this Act in connection with the proceedings in respect of which the appeal is being made.
[F6(5)Subsections (2)(a), (3) and (4) above shall apply to an application for criminal legal aid in connection with consideration under section 107, 180 or 187 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 whether to grant leave to appeal as if—
(a)in subsection (2)(a), for the words “of the appeal” there were substituted the words “in connection with consideration whether to grant leave to appeal”; and
(b)in subsection (4), after the word “is” there were inserted the words “subject to leave being granted,”.
(6)Subsections (2)(a) and (c) and (2A) to (4) above shall apply to an application for criminal legal aid in connection with a petition to thenobile officium of the High Court of Justiciary (whether arising in the course of any proceedings or otherwise) as they apply for the purposes of subsection (1) above.
(7)Subsections (2)(a), (3) and (4) above shall apply to an application for criminal legal aid in connection with a reference by the [F7Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission under section 194B] of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 as they apply for the purposes of subsection (1) above.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 25(1) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 63(5)(a)
F2Words in s. 25 inserted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 63(5)(b)
F3Words in s. 25(2)(a) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 63(6)(a)
F4S. 25(2)(b)(c) substituted for s. 25(2)(b) and the preceding “and” (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 63(6)(b)
F5S. 25(2A) inserted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 63(7)
F6S. 25(5)-(7) substituted for s. 25(5) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 5, 7(2), Sch. 4 para. 63(8)
F7Words in s. 25(7) substituted (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 34, 108(3)(a) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))