Scottish Law
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Scots law () is the
legal system The contemporary national legal systems are generally based on one of four basic systems: civil law, common law, statutory law, religious law or combinations of these. However, the legal system of each country is shaped by its unique history an ...
of
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
. It is a hybrid or mixed legal system containing civil law and
common law In law, common law (also known as judicial precedent, judge-made law, or case law) is the body of law created by judges and similar quasi-judicial tribunals by virtue of being stated in written opinions."The common law is not a brooding omnipresen ...
elements, that traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. Together with
English law English law is the common law legal system of England and Wales, comprising mainly criminal law and civil law, each branch having its own courts and procedures. Principal elements of English law Although the common law has, historically, be ...
and
Northern Ireland law The law of Northern Ireland is the legal system of statute and common law operating in Northern Ireland since the partition of Ireland established Northern Ireland as a distinct jurisdiction in 1921. Prior to 1921, Northern Ireland was part of ...
, it is one of the three legal systems of the United Kingdom.Stair, General Legal Concepts (Reissue), para. 4 (Online) Retrieved 2011-11-29 Early Scots law before the 12th century consisted of the different legal traditions of the various cultural groups who inhabited the country at the time, the
Gaels The Gaels ( ; ga, Na Gaeil ; gd, Na Gàidheil ; gv, Ny Gaeil ) are an ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man in the British Isles. They are associated with the Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic langu ...
in most of the country, with the
Britons British people or Britons, also known colloquially as Brits, are the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the British Overseas Territories, and the Crown dependencies.: British nationality law governs mo ...
and
Anglo-Saxons The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...
in some districts south of the Forth and with the Norse in the islands and north of the
River Oykel The River Oykel ( gd, Òiceall or , ) is a major river in northern Scotland that is famous for its salmon fishing. It rises on Ben More Assynt, a few miles from Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland, and drains into the North Sea via the Kyle ...
. The introduction of
feudalism Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was the combination of the legal, economic, military, cultural and political customs that flourished in medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of structur ...
from the 12th century and the expansion of the
Kingdom of Scotland The Kingdom of Scotland (; , ) was a sovereign state in northwest Europe traditionally said to have been founded in 843. Its territories expanded and shrank, but it came to occupy the northern third of the island of Great Britain, sharing a la ...
established the modern roots of Scots law, which was gradually influenced by other, especially
Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...
and continental legal traditions. Although there was some indirect
Roman law Roman law is the law, legal system of ancient Rome, including the legal developments spanning over a thousand years of jurisprudence, from the Twelve Tables (c. 449 BC), to the ''Corpus Juris Civilis'' (AD 529) ordered by Eastern Roman emperor J ...
influence on Scots law, the direct influence of Roman law was slight up until around the 15th century. After this time, Roman law was often adopted in argument in court, in an adapted form, where there was no native Scots rule to settle a dispute; and Roman law was in this way partially received into Scots law. Scots law recognises four sources of law: legislation, legal precedent, specific academic writings, and custom. Legislation affecting Scotland may be passed by the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
and the
United Kingdom Parliament The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative supremacy ...
. Some legislation passed by the pre-1707
Parliament of Scotland The Parliament of Scotland ( sco, Pairlament o Scotland; gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland from the 13th century until 1707. The parliament evolved during the early 13th century from the king's council o ...
is still also valid. Since the
Union with England Act 1707 The Acts of Union ( gd, Achd an Aonaidh) were two Acts of Parliament: the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act 1707 passed by the Parliament of Scotland. They put into effect the te ...
, Scotland has shared a
legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
with
England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...
. Scotland retained a fundamentally different legal system from that south of the border, but the Union exerted English influence upon Scots law. Since the UK joined the European Union, Scots law has also been affected by
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
under the
Treaties of the European Union The Treaties of the European Union are a set of international treaties between the European Union (EU) member states which sets out the EU's constitutional basis. They establish the various EU institutions together with their remit, procedures a ...
, the requirements of the
European Convention on Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) is an international convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by t ...
(entered into by members of the
Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; french: Conseil de l'Europe, ) is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold European Convention on Human Rights, human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. ...
) and the creation of the devolved Scottish Parliament which may pass legislation within all areas not reserved to Westminster, as detailed by the
Scotland Act 1998 The Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which legislated for the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers and the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive). It was on ...
.Sch. 5 Scotland Act 1998Devolved and reserved matters explained
,
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
, Retrieved 2011-10-22
The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2020 was passed by the Scottish Parliament in December 2020. It received
Royal assent Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in other ...
on 29 January 2021 and came into operation on the same day. It provides powers for the Scottish Ministers to keep devolved Scots law in alignment with future
EU Law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its val ...
.


Scotland as a distinct jurisdiction

The United Kingdom, judicially, consists of three
jurisdictions Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. Jur ...
: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. There are important differences between Scots law,
English law English law is the common law legal system of England and Wales, comprising mainly criminal law and civil law, each branch having its own courts and procedures. Principal elements of English law Although the common law has, historically, be ...
and Northern Irish law in areas such as
property law Property law is the area of law that governs the various forms of ownership in real property (land) and personal property. Property refers to legally protected claims to resources, such as land and personal property, including intellectual pro ...
,
criminal law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law i ...
,
trust law A trust is a legal relationship in which the holder of a right gives it to another person or entity who must keep and use it solely for another's benefit. In the Anglo-American common law, the party who entrusts the right is known as the "settl ...
,
inheritance law Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officially ...
,
evidence law The law of evidence, also known as the rules of evidence, encompasses the rules and legal principles that govern the proof of facts in a legal proceeding. These rules determine what evidence must or must not be considered by the trier of fa ...
and
family law Family law (also called matrimonial law or the law of domestic relations) is an area of the law that deals with family matters and domestic relations. Overview Subjects that commonly fall under a nation's body of family law include: * Marriage, ...
while there are greater similarities in areas of UK-wide interest such as
commercial law Commercial law, also known as mercantile law or trade law, is the body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and business engaged in commerce, merchandising, trade, and sales. It is often considered to be a branc ...
, consumer rights, taxation, employment law and health and safety regulations. Examples of differences between the jurisdictions include the age of legal capacity (16 years old in Scotland but 18 years old in England and Wales), and the fact that
equity Equity may refer to: Finance, accounting and ownership * Equity (finance), ownership of assets that have liabilities attached to them ** Stock, equity based on original contributions of cash or other value to a business ** Home equity, the dif ...
was never a distinct branch of Scots law. Some examples in criminal law include: * The use of 15-member juries for criminal trials in Scotland (compared with 12-member juries in England and Wales) who always decide by simple majority.Jones, p. 46 * The accused in a criminal trial does not have the right to elect between a
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
or
jury trial A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a Trial, legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or Question of law, findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or Judicial panel, panel of judges makes all decisions. ...
. * Judges and juries of criminal trials have the "third verdict" of ''
not proven Not proven (, ) is a verdict available to a Courts of Scotland, court of law in Scotland. Under Scots law, a Criminal procedure, criminal trial may end in one of three verdicts, one of conviction ("guilty") and two of acquittal ("not proven" and ...
'' available to them. * The requirement for
corroborating evidence Corroborating evidence, also referred to as corroboration, is a type of evidence in law. Types and uses Corroborating evidence tends to support a proposition that is already supported by some initial evidence, therefore confirming the propositio ...
means at least two independent sources of evidence are required in support of each crucial fact before an accused can be convicted. In Scotland there are justice of the peace courts, sheriff courts, not magistrates' court (England and Wales), magistrates' courts or Crown Court as in England and Wales, and the College of Justice. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides the independent public prosecution service for Scotland like the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland.


History

Scots law can be traced to its early beginnings as a number of different custom systems among Scotland's early cultures to its modern role as one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. The various historic sources of Scots law, including Custom (law), custom, feudal law, canon law, Civil law (legal system), civilian ''Jus commune, ius commune'' and English law have created a Pluralistic legal system, hybrid or mixed legal system. The nature of Scots law before the 12th century is largely speculative, but is likely to have been a mixture of different legal traditions representing the different cultures inhabiting the land at the time, including Brehon Laws, Gaelic, Cyfraith Hywel, Welsh, Medieval Scandinavian law, Norse and Anglo-Saxon law, Anglo-Saxon customs. There is evidence to suggest that as late as the 17th century marriage laws in the Highlands and Islands still reflected Gaelic custom, contrary to Catholic Church, Catholic religious principles. The formation of the Kingdom of Scotland and its subjugation of the surrounding cultures, completed by the Battle of Carham, established what are approximately the boundaries of contemporary mainland Scotland. The Outer Hebrides were added after the Battle of Largs in 1263, and the Northern Isles were acquired in 1469, completing what is today the legal jurisdiction of Scotland. From the 12th century
feudalism Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was the combination of the legal, economic, military, cultural and political customs that flourished in medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of structur ...
was gradually introduced to Scotland and established feudal land tenure over many parts of the south and east, which eventually spread northward. As feudalism began to develop in Scotland early court systems began to develop, including early forms of Sheriff Courts. Under Robert I of Scotland, Robert the Bruce the importance of the
Parliament of Scotland The Parliament of Scotland ( sco, Pairlament o Scotland; gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland from the 13th century until 1707. The parliament evolved during the early 13th century from the king's council o ...
grew as he called parliaments more frequently, and its composition shifted to include more representation from the burghs and lesser landowners.Reid, ''I. Introduction and Property'', p. 38 In 1399 a General Council established that the King should hold a parliament at least once a year for the next three years so "that his subjects are served by the law". In 1318 a parliament at Scone, Scotland, Scone enacted a code of law that drew upon older practices, but it was also dominated by current events and focused on military matters and the conduct of First War of Scottish Independence, the war of Scottish Independence. From the 14th century we have surviving examples of early Scottish legal literature, such as the ''Regiam Majestatem'' (on procedure at the royal courts) and the ''Quoniam Attachiamenta'' (on procedure at the baron courts). Both of these important texts, as they were copied, had provisions from
Roman law Roman law is the law, legal system of ancient Rome, including the legal developments spanning over a thousand years of jurisprudence, from the Twelve Tables (c. 449 BC), to the ''Corpus Juris Civilis'' (AD 529) ordered by Eastern Roman emperor J ...
and the ''ius commune'' inserted or developed, demonstrating the influence which both these sources had on Scots law. From the reign of King James I of Scotland, James I to King James V of Scotland, James V the beginnings of a legal profession began to develop and the administration of criminal and civil justice was centralised. The Parliament of Scotland was normally called on an annual basis during this period and its membership was further defined. The evolution of the modern Court of Session also traces its history to the 15th and early 16th century with the establishment of a specialised group of councillors to the King evolving from the King's Council who dealt solely with the administration of justice. In 1528, it was established that the Lords of Council not appointed to this body were to be excluded from its audiences and it was also this body that four years later in 1532 became the College of Justice. The 1688 Glorious Revolution in Scotland, Glorious Revolution and the Claim of Right 1689, Claim of Right in 1689 Constitution of the United Kingdom, established Parliamentary sovereignty in the United Kingdom, Parliamentary Sovereignty in Scotland, and the Acts of Union 1707 merged the
Kingdom of Scotland The Kingdom of Scotland (; , ) was a sovereign state in northwest Europe traditionally said to have been founded in 843. Its territories expanded and shrank, but it came to occupy the northern third of the island of Great Britain, sharing a la ...
and the Kingdom of England to form the new Kingdom of Great Britain. Article 19 of the Acts of Union 1707, Act confirmed the continuing authority of the College of Justice, Court of Session and Court of Justiciary in Scotland. Article 3, however, merged the Parliament of Scotland, Estates of Scotland with the Parliament of England to form the Parliament of Great Britain, with its seat in the Palace of Westminster, London, England, London. Under the terms of the Act of Union, Scotland retained its own systems of law, education and Church (Church of Scotland, Presbyterian polity), separately from the rest of the country. The Parliament of Great Britain otherwise was not restricted in altering laws concerning public right, policy and civil government, but concerning private right, only alterations for the evident utility of the subjects within Scotland were permitted. The Scottish Enlightenment then reinvigorated Scots law as a university-taught discipline. The transfer of legislative power to London and the introduction of appeal in civil but not criminal cases to the House of Lords (now, by appeal to the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom) brought further English influence. Acts of the Parliament began to create unified legal statutes applying in both England and Scotland, particularly when conformity was seen as necessary for pragmatic reasons (such as the Sale of Goods Act 1893). Appeal decisions by English judges raised concerns about this appeal to a foreign system, and in the late 19th century Acts allowed for the appointment of Scottish Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. At the same time, a series of cases made it clear that no appeal lay from the High Court of Justiciary to the House of Lords. Today the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom usually has a minimum of two Scottish justices to ensure that some Scottish experience is brought to bear on Scottish appeals. Scots law has continued to change and develop in the 20th century, with the most significant change coming under Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolution and the reformation of the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
.


Influential sources

An early Scottish legal compilation, ''Regiam Majestatem'', was based heavily on Ranulf de Glanvill, Glanvill's Tractatus of Glanvill, English law treatise, although it also contains elements of civil law, feudal law, canon law, customary law and native Scots statutes. Although there was some indirect Roman-law influence on Scots law, via medieval ''ius commune'' and canon law used in the church courts, the direct influence of Roman law was slight up until around the mid-15th century. After this time, civilian ''ius commune'' was often adopted in argument in court, in an adapted form, where there was no native Scots rule to settle a dispute; and civil law was in this way partially received ''in subsidium'' into Scots law. Since the Acts of Union 1707, Scotland has shared a United Kingdom Parliament, legislature with the rest of the United Kingdom. Scotland retained a fundamentally different legal system from that of
England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...
, but the Union brought England, English influence on Scots law. In recent years, Scots law has also been affected by
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
under the
Treaties of the European Union The Treaties of the European Union are a set of international treaties between the European Union (EU) member states which sets out the EU's constitutional basis. They establish the various EU institutions together with their remit, procedures a ...
, the requirements of the
European Convention on Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) is an international convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by t ...
(entered into by members of the
Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; french: Conseil de l'Europe, ) is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold European Convention on Human Rights, human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. ...
) and the establishment of the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
which may pass legislation within its Reserved matters (Westminster)#Scotland, areas of legislative competence as detailed by the
Scotland Act 1998 The Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which legislated for the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers and the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive). It was on ...
.


Sources of law


Legislation

The Parliament of the United Kingdom has the power to pass statutes on any issue for Scotland, although under the Sewel convention it will not do so in Reserved matters (Westminster)#Scotland, devolved matters without the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
's consent.Bradley & Ewing
p. 22p. 64
/ref> The Human Rights Act 1998, the
Scotland Act 1998 The Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which legislated for the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers and the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive). It was on ...
and the European Communities Act 1972 (UK), European Communities Act 1972 have special status in the law of Scotland. Modern statutes will specify that they apply to
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
and may also include special wording to take into consideration unique elements of the legal system. Statutes must receive Royal Assent from the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, King before becoming law, however this is now only a formal procedure and is automatic. Legislation of the Parliament of the United Kingdom is not subject to revocation by the courts as the Parliament is said to have supreme legal authority; however, application of legislation is subject to judicial review and also in practice, the Parliament will tend not to create legislation which contradicts the Human Rights Act 1998 or
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
, although it is technically free to do so. The degree to which the Parliament has surrendered this sovereignty is a matter of controversy with arguments generally concerning what the relationship should be between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Acts of the United Kingdom Parliament also regularly delegate powers to Ministers of the Crown or other bodies to produce legislation in the form of statutory instruments. This delegated legislation has legal effect in Scotland so far as the specific provisions of the statutory instrument are duly authorised by the powers of the Act, a question which can be subjected to judicial review. The
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
is a Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved Unicameralism, unicameral
legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
that has the power to pass statutes only affecting Scotland on matters Reserved matters (Westminster)#Scotland, within its legislative competence. Legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament must also comply with the Human Rights Act 1998 and
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
, otherwise the Court of Session or High Court of Justiciary have the authority to strike down the legislation as ''ultra vires''. There have been a number of high-profile examples of challenges to Scottish Parliament legislation on these grounds, including against the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 where an interest group unsuccessfully claimed the ban on fox hunting violated their human rights. Legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament also requires Royal Assent which, like with the Parliament of the United Kingdom, is automatically granted. Legislation passed by the pre-1707
Parliament of Scotland The Parliament of Scotland ( sco, Pairlament o Scotland; gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland from the 13th century until 1707. The parliament evolved during the early 13th century from the king's council o ...
still has legal effect in Scotland, though the number of statutes that have not been repealed is limited. Examples include the Royal Mines Act 1424, which makes gold and silver mines the property of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, and the Leases Act 1449, which is still relied on today in
property law Property law is the area of law that governs the various forms of ownership in real property (land) and personal property. Property refers to legally protected claims to resources, such as land and personal property, including intellectual pro ...
cases. Legislation which forms part of the law of Scotland should not be confused with a civil code as it does not attempt to comprehensively detail the law. Legislation forms only one of a number of sources.


Common law

Common law is an important legal source in Scotland, especially in
criminal law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law i ...
where a large body of legal precedent has been developed, so that many crimes, such as murder, are not Codification (law), codified. Sources of common law in Scotland are the decisions of the Scottish courts and certain rulings of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (including its predecessor the House of Lords Appellate Committee, House of Lords).The Criminal Courts
Healthy & Safety Executive, Retrieved 2011-10-22
The degree to which decisions of the Supreme Court are binding on Scottish courts in Civil law (common law), civil matters is controversial, especially where those decisions relate to cases brought from other legal jurisdictions; however, decisions of the Supreme Court in appeals from Scotland are considered binding precedent. In Criminal law, criminal cases the highest appellate court is the Court of Justiciary and so the common law related to criminal law in Scotland has been largely developed only in Scotland. Rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union also contribute to the common law in the interpretation of the
European Convention on Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) is an international convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by t ...
and
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
respectively. The common law of Scotland should not be confused with the common law of England, which has different historical roots.Stair, vol. 22, para. 359 (Online) Retrieved 2011-10-26 The historical roots of the common law of Scotland are the customary laws of the different cultures which inhabited the region, which were mixed together with feudal concepts by the List of Scottish monarchs, Scottish Kings to form a distinct common law. The influence that English-trained judges have had on the common law of Scotland through rulings of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (and formerly the House of Lords Appellate Committee, House of Lords) has been at times considerable, especially in areas of law where conformity was required across the United Kingdom for pragmatic reasons. This has resulted in rulings with strained interpretations of the common law of Scotland, such a
''Smith v Bank of Scotland''


Academic writings

A number of works by academic authors, called ''institutional writers'', have been identified as formal sources of law in Scotland since at least the 19th century. The exact list of authors and works, and whether it can be added to, is a matter of controversy.Stair, vol. 22, para. 538 (Online) Retrieved 2011-11-18 The generally accepted listStair, vol. 22, para. 537 (Online) Retrieved 2011-11-18 of institutional works are: *Thomas Craig (poet), Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton's ''Jus Feudale (1603)''; *James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair, Sir James Dalrymple, Viscount of Stair's ''Institutions of the law of Scotland (1681)''; *Bankton House, Andrew MacDouall, Lord Bankton's ''An Institute of the Laws of Scotland (1751–1753)''; *John Erskine of Carnock's ''An Institute of the Law of Scotland (1773)''; and, *George Joseph Bell's ''Commentaries on the Law of Scotland and on the Principles of Mercantile Jurisprudence (1804)'' and ''Principles of the Law of Scotland (1829)''. Some commentators would also consider the following works to be included: *George Mackenzie (lawyer), Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh's ''The Institutions of the Law of Scotland (1684)''; *John Erskine of Carnock's ''Principles of the Law of Scotland (1754)''; and, *Henry Home, Lord Kames' ''Principles of Equity (1760)'' The recognition of the authority of the institutional writers was gradual and developed with the significance in the 19th century of ''stare decisis''. The degree to which these works are authoritative is not exact. The view of University of Edinburgh School of Law, University of Edinburgh Professor Thomas Smith (barrister), Sir Thomas Smith was, "the authority of an institutional writer is approximately equal to that of a decision by a Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session".


Custom

John Erskine of Carnock, an institutional writer, described legal custom as, "that which, without any express enactment by the supreme power, derives force from its tacit consent; which consent is presumed from the inveterate or immemorial usage of the community." Legal custom in Scotland today largely plays a historical role, as it has been gradually eroded by statute and the development of the institutional writers' authority in the 19th century. Some examples do persist in Scotland, such as the influence of Udal law in Orkney and Shetland. However, its importance is largely historic with the last court ruling to cite customary law being decided in 1890.


Legal institutions


Government of Scotland

The Scottish Government, led by the First Minister of Scotland, First Minister, is responsible for formulating policy and implementing laws passed by the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
. The Scottish Parliament nominates one of its Members to be appointed as First Minister by the Charles III, King.''Answers to Frequently Asked Questions''
The Scottish Parliament, Retrieved 2011-11-21
The First Minister of Scotland, First Minister is assisted by various Cabinet Secretaries with individual Ministry (government department), portfolios and remits, who are appointed by the First Minister of Scotland, First Minister with the approval of Parliament. Ministers are similarly appointed to assist Cabinet Secretaries in their work. The Scottish Law Officers, (the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland, Solicitor General) can be appointed from outside the Parliament's membership, but are subject to its approval. The First Minister, the Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and the Scottish Law Officers are the Members of the Scottish Government. They are collectively known as the "Scottish Ministers". The Scottish Government has executive responsibility for the Scottish legal system, with functions exercised by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans. The Justice Secretary has political responsibility for Policing in the United Kingdom, policing, law enforcement, the courts of Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service, fire services, Emergency preparedness, civil emergencies and civil justice.


Legislature

Many areas of Scots law are legislature, legislated for by the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
, in matters devolution, devolved from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Areas of Scots law over which the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
has competency include health, education, criminal justice, local government, environment and civil justice amongst others. However, certain powers are Reserved matters (Westminster), reserved to Westminster including Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), defence, Foreign relations of the United Kingdom, international relations, Economy of the United Kingdom, fiscal and economic policy, Prohibition (drugs), drugs law, and Media of the United Kingdom, broadcasting. The Scottish Parliament also has been granted limited tax raising powers. Although technically the Parliament of the United Kingdom retains full power to legislate for Scotland, under the Sewel convention it will not legislate on devolved matters without the agreement of the Scottish Parliament.


Courts of Scotland


Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

All Scottish courts, except for the Court of the Lord Lyon, are administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. The Courts and Tribunals service is a non-ministerial government department with a corporate board chaired by the Lord President of the Court of Session (the head of the judiciary of Scotland.)


Criminal courts


=Justice of the peace courts

= Less serious criminal offences which can be dealt with under Summary offence, summary procedure are handled by local Justice of the Peace Courts. The maximum penalty which a normal Justice of the Peace can impose is 60 days imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £2,500.


=Sheriff courts

= Sheriff Courts act as district criminal courts, organised by sheriffdom, and deal with cases under both Summary offence, summary and Indictable offence, solemn procedure. Cases can be heard either before a Summary Sheriff, a Sheriff, or a Sheriff and a jury. The maximum penalty which the Sheriff Court can impose, where heard just by a Sheriff or Summary Sheriff, is 12 months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £10,000. A case before a Sheriff and jury can result in up to 5 years imprisonment or an unlimited fine.Courts of law
Citizens Advice Bureau, Retrieved 2011-11-24
Appeals against conviction, summary convictions and sentence (law), summary sentences are heard by the Sheriff Appeal Court, and decisions of the Sheriff Appeal Court can only be appealed with leave to the High Court of Justiciary and then only on question of law, questions of law.


=High Court of Justiciary

= More serious crimes, and appeals from solemn proceedings in the Sheriff Courts, are heard by the High Court of Justiciary. There is no appeal available in criminal cases to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, with respect to points of criminal law. Cases where the accused alleges a breach of the
European Convention on Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) is an international convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by t ...
or
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
can also be referred or appealed to the UK Supreme Court for a ruling on the relevant alleged breach. In these cases the UK Supreme Court is the successor to the House of Lords as the highest civil court having taken over the judicial functions of the House of Lords and the Privy Council from 2009.


Civil courts


=Sheriff courts

= Sheriff Courts also act as district civil courts with exclusive jurisdiction over all cases worth not more than , unless they are particularly complicated or of significant importance.Small claims actions
Shelter Scotland, Retrieved 2011-11-24
Ordinary cause actions
Shelter Scotland, Retrieved 2011-11-24
Personal injury actions may also be heard at the specialist all-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court, which has the power to hear cases before a jury trial, jury. Decisions of a Sheriff Court are appealed to the Sheriff Appeal Court. Further appeals are possible to the Inner House of the Court of Session, but only with the permission of either the Sheriff Appeal Court, or the Court of Session. Such appeals are granted if there is an important point of principle, or other compelling reason. Appeals may finally be taken to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, but only with the leave of either the Inner House or the Supreme Court itself, and it relates to a general point of public interest in the law.


=Court of Session

= Complicated or high-value cases can be heard at first instance by the Outer House of the Court of Session, with the Court of Session having concurrent jurisdiction for all cases with a monetary value of more than . Decisions of the Outer House are appealed to the Inner House of the Court of Session, and (where allowed by the Inner House, or in matters relative to Devolution) then to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Scottish courts may make European Court of Justice#References for a preliminary ruling, a reference for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union in cases involving
European law European Union law is a system of rules operating within the member states of the European Union (EU). Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community following World War II, the EU has developed the aim to "promote peace, its valu ...
.


Specialist courts

There are also a number of specialist courts and tribunals that have been created to hear specific types of disputes. These include Children's Hearings, the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, the Scottish Land Court and the Court of the Lord Lyon. The Employment Appeal Tribunal is also an example of a cross-jurisdictional tribunal.


Judiciary of Scotland

Scotland has several classes of
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
who sit in the various courts of Scotland, and led by the Lord President of the Court of Session who is head of the Scottish judiciary by virtue of Section 2 of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008. The second most senior judge is the Lord Justice Clerk, and together with the Senators of the College of Justice, Senators they constitute the College of Justice. The Senators are referred to as ''Lords of Council and Session'' when sitting in civil cases, and ''Lords Commissioners of Justiciary'' when sitting in criminal cases. The sheriff courts are presided over by the sheriff principal, Sheriffs Principal, sheriff court, Sheriffs, and Summary Sheriffs. They will preside over both civil and criminal cases. The most junior judges are the justice of the peace, justices of the peace who preside over minor criminal matters in the Justice of the Peace Courts.


Legal profession

The Scottish legal profession has two main branches, advocates and solicitors.Palmer, p. 213 Advocates, the equivalent of the English barristers, belong to the Faculty of Advocates which distinguishes between junior counsel and senior counsel, the latter being designated King's Counsel, King's or Queen's Counsel. Advocates specialise in presenting cases before Scottish courts, courts and tribunals, with near-exclusive rights of audience, and in giving legal opinions. They usually receive instructions indirectly from clients through solicitors, though in many circumstances they can be instructed directly by members of certain professional associations. Solicitors are members of the Law Society of Scotland and deal directly with their clients in all sorts of legal affairs. In the majority of cases they present their client's case to the court, and while traditionally they did not have the right to appear before the higher courts, since 1992 they have been able to apply for extended rights, becoming known as solicitor advocates. Notary public (Scotland), Notaries public, unlike civil law notary, their continental equivalent, are not members of a separate profession; they must be solicitors, and most solicitors are also notaries.


See also

*List of Scottish legal cases


Notes


References

*Barrow, Geofrey. ''Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000–1306''. Edinburgh University Press, 1989. *Boyle, Alan; Himsworth, Chris; Hector MacQueen, MacQueen, Hector
''Human Rights and Scots Law: Comparative Perspectives on the Incorporation of the ECHR''
Hart Publishing, 2002. *Bradley, Anthony Wilfred; Ewing, Keith D
''Constitutional and Administrative Law''
Pearson Education, 2007. *Davidson, Fraser; MacGregor, Laura. ''Commercial Law in Scotland''. W. Green & Son, 2008. *John Erskine of Carnock, Erskine, ''An Institute of the Law of Scotland'' *George Gretton, Gretton, George; Steven, Andrew. ''Property, Trusts and Successions''. Tottel Publishing, 2009. *Jones, Timothy; Christie, Michael. ''Criminal Law''. W. Green & Son, 2008. *Palmer, Veron
''Mixed jurisdictions worldwide: the third legal family''
Cambridge University Press, 2001. *Reid, Kenneth; Zimmerman, Reinhard
''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property''
Oxford University Press, 2000. *Reid, Kenneth; Zimmerman, Reinhard
''A History of Private Law in Scotland: II. Obligations''
Oxford University Press, 2000. *Thomas Smith (barrister), Smith, Thomas. ''A Short Commentary on the Law of Scotland''. Green & Son Ltd, 1962. *Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia, ''The Laws of Scotland: Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia''
Lexis Library
*Tetley, William Q.C
''Mixed Jurisdictions: common law vs. civil law (codified and uncodified)''
4 Uniform L. rev. (N.S.), 1999. *Thomson, Stephen
''Mixed Jurisdiction and the Scottish Legal Tradition: Reconsidering the Concept of Mixture''
(2014) 7(1) Journal of Civil Law Studies 51-91 *White, Robin; Willock, Ian. ''The Scottish Legal System''. Tottel Publishing, 2007.


External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Scots Law Scots law,