JustCite FAQs – Courts in Scotland.docVIP

JustCite FAQs – Courts in Scotland Q – What is the hierarchy of courts in Scotland? A – The court system in Scotland can be considered as consisting of 4 levels: House of Lords and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council（枢密院司法委员会 Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary Sheriff Courts District Courts Judicial Committee of the Privy Council In addition to its role as the court of final appeal for Commonwealth countries, the Judicial Committee is also the court of final appeal for the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland. Some functions of the Judicial Committee are due to be taken over by the new Supreme Court in 2009.(To find cases from this court, use PC in the Court field on the Search In Cases screen, and restrict the search to Scottish cases.) House of Lords In addition to its role as the highest court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the House of Lords also hears appeals from the Inner House of the Court of Session in Scotland. The judicial functions of the Law Lords are due to be taken over by the new Supreme Court in 2009.(To find cases from this court, use HL or HL(Sc) in the Court field on the Search In Cases screen, and restrict the search to Scottish cases.) Court of Session The Court of Session is the supreme civil court for Scotland, and serves both as a court of first instance and as a court of appeal. The Court of Session consists of 2 houses, the Inner House and the Outer House. Inner House The Inner House of the Court of Session mainly deals with appeals, though it also deals with a small range of first instance business. Appeals are heard from the Outer House, from the Sheriff Court, and from certain tribunals and other bodies. Appeals are heard by at least 3 judges, without a jury. Decisions of the Inner House may be appealed to the House of Lords.(To find cases from this court, use 1st Division, 2nd Division or Extra Division in the Court field on the Search In Cases screen.) Outer House The Outer House hears cases at fi