PART IV Petition Procedure

Judicial examination

35 Judicial examination.

1

The accused’s solicitor shall be entitled to be present at the examination.

2

The sheriff may delay the examination for a period not exceeding 48 hours from and after the time of the accused’s arrest, in order to allow time for the attendance of the solicitor.

F63

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F74

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14A

An accused charged with a sexual offence to which section 288C of this Act applies shall, as soon as he is brought before the sheriff for examination on the charge, be told—

F3a

that his case at, or for the purposes of, any relevant hearing (within the meaning of section 288C(1A)) in the course of the proceedings may be conducted only by a lawyer,

b

that it is, therefore, in his interests, if he has not already done so, to get the professional assistance of a solicitor; and

c

that, if he does not engage a solicitor for the purposes of F2the conduct of his case at or for the purposes of theF4hearing, the court will do so.

4B

A failure to comply with subsection (4A) above does not affect the validity or lawfulness of the examination or of any other element of the proceedings against the accused.

F85

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

Where the accused is brought before the sheriff for further examination the sheriff may delay that examination for a period not exceeding 24 hours in order to allow time for the attendance of the accused’s solicitor.

F56A

In proceedings before the sheriff in examination or further examination, the accused is not to be given an opportunity to make a declaration in respect of any charge.

7

Any proceedings before the sheriff in examination or further examination shall be conducted in chambers and outwith the presence of any co-accused.

8

This section applies to procedure on petition, without prejudice to the accused being tried summarily by the sheriff for any offence in respect of which he has been committed until liberated in due course of law.