District Courts
District courts were established by the District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975 to replace police courts, burgh courts, justice of the peace courts, quarter sessions and the court of the bailie of the river and firth of Clyde.[1] The district courts were based on district council and islands council areas and funded and administered by these local authorities. The councils were responsible for appointing a district prosecutor as well as the clerk of the district court who had to be a solicitor or advocate and who acted as the legal assessor to the court. The councils also had to provide premises for the district court.
District court sittings were presided over by the justices of the peace or a stipendiary magistrate. The JPs also formed a justices committee to advise the council on the administration of the district court and deal with training and rotas. The council was required to appoint a clerk of the peace to advise and assist the JPs, arrange meetings and keep records.
District courts dealt with minor offences such as breach of the peace, minor assault, petty theft and minor motoring offences. Their sentencing powers were limited to fines or imprisonment for up to sixty days.[2]
In 2008 the district courts were abolished and replaced by new Justice of the Peace courts administered centrally by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.[3]
Compiler: Elspeth Reid (2021)
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References
[1] District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975 (c.20).
[2] Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Act 1954 (c.48).
[3] Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp. 6).