Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

71 First diet. S

[F1 (A1) At a first diet [F2 in proceedings to which subsection (B1) below applies] , the court shall, F3 . . . ascertain whether [F4 the accused] has engaged a solicitor for the purposes of his defence at the trial.]

[F5 (B1) This subsection applies to proceedings—

(a) in which the accused is charged with a sexual offence to which section 288C of this Act applies,

(b) to which section 288E of this Act applies, or

(c) in which an order under section 288F(2) of this Act has been made before the trial diet.]

(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.

[F6 (1A) At a first diet, the court shall also—

(a) ascertain whether subsection (1B) below applies to any person who is to give evidence at or for the purposes of the trial or to the accused, and

(b) if so, consider whether it should make an order under section 271A(7) or 271D(2) of this Act in relation to the person or, as the case may be, the accused.

(1B) This subsection applies—

(a) to a person who is to give evidence at or for the purposes of the trial if that person is, or is likely to be, a vulnerable witness,

(b) to the accused if, were he to give evidence at or for the purposes of the trial, he would be, or would be likely to be, a vulnerable witness.]

[F7 (1C) At a first diet, the court—

(a) shall ascertain which of the witnesses included in the list of witnesses are required by the prosecutor or the accused to attend the trial; and

(b) shall, where the accused has been admitted to bail, review the conditions imposed on his bail and may—

(i) after giving the parties an opportunity to be heard; and

(ii) if it considers it appropriate to do so,

fix bail on different conditions.]

(2) In addition to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) [F8 , (1A) and (1C)] above the court shall, at a first diet, consider any [F9 preliminary plea or preliminary issue (within the meanings given to those terms in section 79(2) 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.

[F10 (2XA) At a first diet the court shall also dispose of any child witness notice under section 271A(2) or vulnerable witness application under section 271C(2) appointed to be disposed of at that diet.]

[F11 (2YA) At a first diet, the court shall also ascertain whether there is any objection to the admissibility of any evidence which any party wishes to raise despite not having given the notice referred to in subsection (2) above, and—

(a) if so, decide whether to grant leave under section 79(1) of this Act for the objection to be raised; and

(b) if leave is granted, dispose of the objection unless it considers it inappropriate to do so at the first diet.

(2ZA) Where the court, having granted leave for the objection to be raised, decides not to dispose of it at the first diet, the court may—

(a) appoint a further diet to be held before the trial diet for the purpose of disposing of the objection; or

(b) appoint the objection to be disposed of at the trial diet.]

[F12 (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) [F13 , (1A)][F14 , (1C)][F15 , (2) or (2YA)] above [F16 or 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.

[F17 (5A) Where, however—

[F18 (a) the proceedings in which the first diet is being held are proceedings to which subsection (B1) above applies;]

(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) F19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8A) F19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9) In this section “the court” means the sheriff court.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 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

F2 Words in s. 71(A1) inserted (1.4.2005 for certain purposes and 1.4.2006 for further certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 7(1)(a)(i), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1))

F3 Words in s. 71(A1) repealed (1.4.2005 for certain purposes and 1.4.2006 for further certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 7(1)(a)(ii), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1))

F4 Word in s. 71(A1) substituted (1.4.2005 for certain purposes and 1.4.2006 for further certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 7(1)(a)(iii), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1))

F5 S. 71(B1) inserted (1.4.2005 for certain purposes and 1.4.2006 for further certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 7(1)(b), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1))

F6 S. 71(1A)(1B) inserted (1.4.2005 and 1.4.2006 for certain purposes, otherwise 1.4.2008) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 2(1)(a), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art 4(1)); S.S.I. 2008/57, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F7 S. 71(1C) inserted after (1B) (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 19(2), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)

F8 Words in s. 71(2) substituted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 19(3), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)

F9 Words in s. 71(2) substituted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 20(a); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)

F10 S. 71(2XA) inserted (1.2.2005 for certain purposes in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.S.I.) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (Incidental, Supplemental and Consequential Provisions) Order 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/40), art. 4(3); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Schs. 1, 2

F11 S. 71(2YA)(2ZA) inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 14(1)(a), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)

F12 S. 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))

F13 Words in s. 71(3) inserted (1.4.2005 and 1.4.2006 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.2008) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 2(1)(c), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1)); S.S.I. 2008/57, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F14 Words in s. 71(3) inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 19(4), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)

F15 Words in s. 71(3) substituted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 14(1)(b), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)

F16 Words 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))

F17 S. 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

F18 S. 71(5A)(a) substituted (1.4.2005 for certain purposes and 1.4.2006 for further certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 7(1)(c), 25; S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1))

F19 S. 71(8)(8A) repealed (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 20(b); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5)