Civil Courts Review
The Report of the Scottish Civil Courts Review was launched by the Lord Justice Clerk, the Rt Hon Lord Gill, on Wednesday, 30 September 2009. The Report, which is in two volumes, is now available to download below. A full summary of the recommendations made in the Report is included in both volumes. A synopsis of the Report is also available to download. :
- Volume 1 Chapter 1 - 9 (2.99Mb)
- Volume 2 Chapter 10 - 15 (2.16Mb)
- Synopsis (215Kb)
If you would like a hard copy of the Report, please address all requests to Margaret Cornwall at:
The background to the decision to undertake a review of the civil courts is set out in Chapter 3 of the report published by the Scottish Government entitled 'Modern Laws for a Modern Scotland' at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/165338/0045028.pdf.
The review began its work on 2 April 2007 following the announcement of the then Minister for Justice that the Lord Justice Clerk, the Rt Hon Lord Gill, was to head a review of the civil courts in Scotland with a view to making recommendations for changes to improve access to civil justice, promote early resolution of disputes, make the best use of resources and ensure that cases are dealt with in ways which are proportionate to the value, importance and complexity of the issues raised.
The Project Board of the Civil Courts Review comprised:
- The Lord Justice Clerk, the Rt Hon Lord Gill
- The Hon Lord McEwan
- Sheriff Principal James Taylor
- Sheriff Mhairi Stephen
The Board was supported by a Legal Secretary, Lindsey Nicoll, and a team of legal, policy and research specialists.
The Project Board was assisted by a Policy Group, comprising:
- The Hon Lord Hodge
- Sheriff Principal E F Bowen QC
- Mr Norman McFadyen CBE
- Sheriff C Stoddart
- Mr N Ellis QC
- Ms Kirsty Hood, Advocate
- Mr R Carr, Anderson Strathern WS
- Mr L Montgomery, Scottish Legal Aid Board
- Mr D Forrester, Scottish Court Service
- Mr E Malcolm, Scottish Mediation Network
- Ms S O'Neill, Consumer Focus Scotland
A formal consultation document, Scottish Civil Courts Review - A consultation paper, was published in November 2007. Over 200 responses to the Consultation Paper were received and all except those submitted on a confidential basis are available here, Responses to the Consultation Paper.
The Report has now been presented by the Rt Hon Lord Gill to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP. The Scottish Ministers will decide how to take forward the recommendations made in the Report.
Civil Courts Review: