Sheriff Court
The Sheriff Courts are the backbone of the Court system in Scotland. The Courts deal with a myriad of legal procedures which include:
- Solemn and Summary Criminal cases
- Large and Small estates upon a death
- Fine payments
- Civil actions under Ordinary,Summary Cause and Small Claim Procedures
- Adoption Cases
- Bankruptcy Actions
The legal cases which are heard within the Courts are dealt with by a Sheriff. A Sheriff is a government appointed Judge who is usually assigned to work in a specific Court although some work as part-time Sheriffs who may work anywhere in Scotland. There are several hundred Sheriffs in the various Courts.
The Courts are staffed by civil servants who are employed by the Scottish Courts Service which is an executive agency of the Scottish Executive. The most senior civil servant in the Court is the Sheriff Clerk and he/she is charged directly with the management of the Court.
There are currently 49 Sheriff Courts in Scotland. Most Courts in the north of Scotland are small and this is mainly due to the sparse population. Courts such as those in the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow have a large number of staff and can in one day deal with hundreds of cases. Glasgow Sheriff Court for example is the busiest Court in Europe.
Sheriff Courts are above local district Courts who deal with very minor offences and below the Supreme Courts who deal with the most serious such as Murder.
If a decision of a Sheriff is appealed then it would usually go to the Court of Session (Civil) or the High Court of Justiciary (Criminal).
The Supreme Courts as they are known are based in Edinburgh and the appeal would dealt by a Judge in that Court.
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