[F1(A1)At a first diet, the court shall, where the accused is charged with a sexual offence to which section 288C of this Act applies, ascertain whether he has engaged a solicitor for the purposes of his defence at the trial.]
(1)At a first diet the court shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ascertain whether the case is likely to proceed to trial on the date assigned as the trial diet and, in particular—
(a)the state of preparation of the prosecutor and of the accused with respect to their cases; and
(b)the extent to which the prosecutor and the accused have complied with the duty under section 257(1) of this Act.
(2)In addition to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) above the court shall, at a first diet, consider any matter mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 72(1) of this Act of which a party has, not less than two clear days before the first diet, given notice to the court and to the other parties.
[F2(2A)At a first diet the court may consider an application for the purposes of subsection (1) of section 275 of this Act.]
(3)At a first diet the court may ask the prosecutor and the accused any question in connection with any matter which it is required to ascertain or consider under subsection (1) or (2) above [F3or which is relevant to an application for the purposes of subsection (1) of the said section 275] .
(4)The accused shall attend a first diet of which he has been given notice and the court may, if he fails to do so, grant a warrant to apprehend him.
(5)A first diet may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused.
[F4(5A)Where, however—
(a)the accused is charged with a sexual offence to which section 288C of this Act applies; and
(b)the court has not ascertained (whether at that diet or earlier) that he has engaged a solicitor for the purposes of his defence at the trial,
a first diet may not proceed in his absence; and, in such a case, the court shall adjourn the diet and ordain the accused then to attend.]
(6)The accused shall, at the first diet, be required to state how he pleads to the indictment, and section 77 of this Act shall apply where he tenders a plea of guilty.
(7)Where at a first diet the court concludes that the case is unlikely to proceed to trial on the date assigned for the trial diet, the court—
(a)shall, unless having regard to previous proceedings in the case it considers it inappropriate to do so, postpone the trial diet; and
(b)may fix a further first diet.
(8)Subject to subsection (7) above, the court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, adjourn a first diet.
[F5(8A)Where the court adjourns a first diet under subsection (8) above by reason only that, following inquiries for the purposes of subsection (A1) above, it appears to the court that the accused has not engaged a solicitor for the purposes of his defence at his trial, that adjournment shall be for a period of not more than 48 hours and the accused shall be ordained to then attend.]
(9)In this section “the court” means the sheriff court.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 71(A1) inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 3, Sch. para. 5(a); S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3
F2S. 71(2A) inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 8(2)(a); S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3 (with art. 4(5))
F3Words in s. 71(3) inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 8(2)(b); S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3 (with art. 4(5))
F4S. 71(5A) inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 3, Sch. para. 5(b); S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3
F5S. 71(8A) inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 3, Sch. para. 5(c); S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3