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Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
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- UK Public General Acts
- 1995 c. 46
- Part I
- Jurisdiction and Powers
- Sittings of sheriff and...
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Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Sittings of sheriff and JP courts
Changes to legislation:
There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Part I Chapter 1 Crossheading Sittings-of-sheriff-and-district-courts:
- s. 5A inserted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 7 para. 26
- s. 13(1B) (1C) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(2)
- s. 13(2)(aa) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(3)(b)
- s. 13(3A) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(4)
- s. 13(5)(ba) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(5)(a)
- s. 13(6)(a)(iii) and word inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(6)(b)
- s. 13(8) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(7)
- s. 22(5A) inserted by 2007 asp 6 s. 7(2)(g)
- s. 22A(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(2)
- s. 23B(1)(1A) substituted for s. 23B(1) by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(a)
- s. 23B(6A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(3)(c)
- s. 23B(8)-(10) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(c)
- s. 23C(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 23C(3) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(c)
- s. 24(2C) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(4)
- s. 24(2AA) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(2)
- s. 44(6A)(6B) inserted by 2025 asp 1 s. 2(4)(b)
- s. 49(1)-(1F) substituted for s. 49(1)-(3) by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(a)
- s. 49(4A)-(4C) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(c)
- s. 50(7) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(2)
- s. 70B and cross-heading inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(3)
- s. 73A inserted by 2004 asp 3 s. 2(3)
- s. 142A inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(5)
- s. 167(7D) (7E) inserted by 2007 asp 17 sch. 4 para. 1(3)
- s. 167(7D) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(2)
- s. 167(7E) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(3)
- s. 175(1)(ca) words substituted by 2024 asp 5 Sch. para. 7(4)(a)
- s. 194ZA repealed by 2014 asp 18 sch. 3 para. 25
- s. 200A inserted by 2016 asp 1 s. 85
- s. 249(4A)-(4D) inserted by 2014 asp 1 s. 24
- s. 271D(4A) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(4)
- s. 271F(2)(aa) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 10(4)
- s. 271AA inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(2)
- s. 271BZD inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 3(2)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 5A inserted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 7 para. 26
- s. 13(1B) (1C) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(2)
- s. 13(2)(aa) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(3)(b)
- s. 13(3A) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(4)
- s. 13(5)(ba) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(5)(a)
- s. 13(6)(a)(iii) and word inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(6)(b)
- s. 13(8) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(7)
- s. 22(5A) inserted by 2007 asp 6 s. 7(2)(g)
- s. 22A(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(2)
- s. 23B(1)(1A) substituted for s. 23B(1) by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(a)
- s. 23B(6A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(3)(c)
- s. 23B(8)-(10) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(c)
- s. 23C(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 23C(3) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(c)
- s. 24(2C) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(4)
- s. 24(2AA) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(2)
- s. 44(6A)(6B) inserted by 2025 asp 1 s. 2(4)(b)
- s. 49(1)-(1F) substituted for s. 49(1)-(3) by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(a)
- s. 49(4A)-(4C) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(c)
- s. 50(7) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(2)
- s. 70B and cross-heading inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(3)
- s. 73A inserted by 2004 asp 3 s. 2(3)
- s. 142A inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(5)
- s. 167(7D) (7E) inserted by 2007 asp 17 sch. 4 para. 1(3)
- s. 167(7D) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(2)
- s. 167(7E) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(3)
- s. 175(1)(ca) words substituted by 2024 asp 5 Sch. para. 7(4)(a)
- s. 194ZA repealed by 2014 asp 18 sch. 3 para. 25
- s. 200A inserted by 2016 asp 1 s. 85
- s. 249(4A)-(4D) inserted by 2014 asp 1 s. 24
- s. 271D(4A) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(4)
- s. 271F(2)(aa) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 10(4)
- s. 271AA inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(2)
- s. 271BZD inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 3(2)
[F1Sittings of sheriff and JP courts]S
Textual Amendments
F1S. 8 cross-heading substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(5)(d); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
8[F2Sittings of sheriff and JP courts].S
(1)Notwithstanding any enactment or rule of law, a sheriff court or a [F3JP court]—
(a)shall not be required to sit on any Saturday or Sunday or on a day which by virtue of subsection (2) or (3) below is a court holiday; but
(b)may sit on any day for the disposal of criminal business.
(2)A sheriff principal may in an order made under [F4section 28(1) of the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014] prescribe in respect of criminal business not more than [F511] days, other than Saturdays and Sundays, in a calendar year as court holidays in the sheriff courts within his jurisdiction; and may in the like manner prescribe as an additional court holiday any day which has been proclaimed, under section 1(3) of the M1Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, to be a bank holiday either throughout the United Kingdom or in a place or locality in the United Kingdom within his jurisdiction.
(3)[F6A sheriff principal may] prescribe not more than [F511] days, other than Saturdays and Sundays, in a calendar year as court holidays in the [F7JP courts] within his jurisdiction; and he may F8. . . prescribe as an additional holiday any day which has been proclaimed, under section 1(3) of the said Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, to be a bank holiday either throughout the United Kingdom or in a place or locality in the United Kingdom within his jurisdiction.
(4)A sheriff principal may in pursuance of subsection (2) or (3) above prescribe different days as court holidays in relation to different sheriff or [F9JP courts] .
Textual Amendments
F2S. 8 title substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(5)(e); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
F3Words in s. 8(1) substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(4); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
F4Words in s. 8(2) substituted (1.4.2015) by The Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/150), art. 1, sch. para. 5
F5Word in s. 8(2)(3) substituted (16.3.2009) by Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 6), ss. 59(2), 76; S.S.I. 2009/83, art. 2
F6Words in s. 8(3) substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(3)(a); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
F7Words in s. 8(3)(4) substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(4); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
F8Words in s. 8(3) repealed (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(3)(b); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
F9Words in s. 8(3)(4) substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(4); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
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