Judiciary

The Scottish judiciary is organized separately from that of the rest of Great Britain.

The two higher courts of Scotland are the High Court of Justiciary (criminal) and the Court of Session (civil). A panel of 21 judges is provided for both courts together. Major criminal trials are held before 1 or 2 judges of the High Court of Justiciary and a 15-member jury; criminal appeals may be heard by a bench of at least 3 judges. The Court of Session is divided into an Outer House, which holds all divorce trials and the more important civil trials, and an Inner House, which functions chiefly as an appellate court in civil cases. Appeals to the British House of Lords may be made from the Court of Session; appellate judgments of the High Court of Justiciary are final.

Each of the six sheriffdoms, into which Scotland is divided, has a sheriff court for less important civil and criminal cases. Petty cases are tried by police courts and justices of the peace.

Answer the following questions:

1. How many members represent Scotland in the House of Commons and the House of Lords?

2. What is the Scottish law system based on?

3. What are the two higher courts of Scotland?

4. How many sheriffdoms is Scotland divided into?

5. Where are petty cases tried?