Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907

Commissions for examination of witnesses S

28.10. (1) This rule applies to a commission—

(a) to take the evidence of a witness who—

(i) is resident beyond the jurisdiction of the court;

(ii) although resident within the jurisdiction of the court, resides at some place remote from that court; or

(iii) by reason of age, infirmity or sickness, is unable to attend the diet of proof; F1 . . .

(b) in respect of the evidence of a witness which is in danger of being lost, to take the evidence to lie in retentis [F2 ; or]

[F3 (c) on special cause shown, to take evidence of a witness on a ground other than one mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b)]

(2) An application by a party for a commission to examine a witness shall be made by motion; and that party shall specify in the motion the name and address of at least one proposed commissioner for approval and appointment by the sheriff.

(3) The interlocutor granting such a commission shall be sufficient authority for citing the witness to appear before the commissioner.

(4) At the commission, the commissioner shall—

(a) administer the oath de fideli administratione to any [F4 clerk and any] shorthand writer appointed for the commis sion; and

(b) administer to the witness the oath in Form G14, or where the witness elects to affirm, the affirmation in Form G15.

(5) Where a commission is granted for the examination of a witness, the commission shall proceed without interrogatories unless, on cause shown, the sheriff otherwise directs.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in rule 28.10(1)(a)(iii) omitted (1.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2445, para. 3(37)(a)(i)

F2 Rule 28.10(1)(b): “;or” substituted for the full-stop (1.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2445, para. 3(37)(a)(ii)

F3 Rule 28.10(1)(c) inserted (1.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2445, para. 3(37)(a)(iii)

F4 Words in rule 28.10(4)(a) inserted (1.11.1996) by S.I. 1996/2445, para. 3(37)(b)