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Criminal Courts Rules Council

Statutory basis
The Criminal Courts Rules Council was established under section 304 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

Functions
The functions of the Council are—

  • to keep under general review the procedures and practices of the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in Scotland;
  • to consider and comment on any draft Act of Adjournal submitted to it by the High Court.

Members
The criteria for membership of the Council are set out in sections 304(2) and (3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. The Lord Justice General, the Lord Justice Clerk and the Clerk of Justiciary hold office ex officio.The other members of the Council are appointed by the Lord Justice General under section 304(2)(b) to (f). A further member is appointed by the Scottish Ministers under section 304(2)(f). Members, other than ex officio members, hold office for three years and are eligible for reappointment provided that they retain the qualifications for membership.

Current members
The current members of the Council are:

  • The Lord Justice General
  • The Lord Justice Clerk
  • The Clerk of Justiciary (Graeme Marwick)
  • The Rt. Hon. Lord Carloway
  • The Hon. Lord Bracadale
  • Sheriff Frank R Crowe
  • Sheriff John A Baird
  • Sheriff William Gilchrist
  • Frances J McMenamin QC (Member of the Faculty of Advocates)
  • Jamie Gilchrist QC (Member of the Faculty of Advocates)
  • Iain M Fleming (Solicitor)
  • Robert G Burnett (Solicitor)
  • David Shand (Sheriff Clerk)
  • Keith Stirling JP
  • Michelle R MacLeod (Crown Office)
  • Jennifer Harrower (Procurator Fiscal)
  • James Chalmers (University of Edinburgh)
  • Jim Andrews (Victim Support Scotland)
  • Donald McGillivray (Scottish Government)

Secretariat

  • Kathryn MacGregor, Legal Secretary to the Lord President
  • Christopher Nicholson, Deputy Legal Secretary to the Lord President

Meetings of the Council are scheduled to take place on the following dates during each year:

  • The second Monday in February
  • The first Monday in June, and
  • The third Monday in October

Minutes of Meetings

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

Contact Information
Any suggestions for changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules should be directed to:

The Lord President’s Private Office,
Parliament House,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1RQ.