Inner House Reform

This page is concerned with the reform of Inner House procedure in the Court of Session.

The current reforms stem from a study of Inner House business carried out by Lord Penrose.

Lord Penrose’s report to the Lord President.

As a result of Lord Penrose’s report the Court of Session made two Acts of Sederunt to introduce new procedural rules for the Court’s Inner House business. The first set of rules, relating to reclaiming motions, applications for new trials or to enter jury verdicts and appeals from inferior courts, came into force on 5 April 2010. The second set of rules, relating to statutory appeals, come into force on 27 September 2011.

Here are links to the first Act of Sederunt and the second Act of Sederunt.

Some flow charts have been prepared that summarise the new procedure under the first set of rules. These are below:

Practice Note No 3 of 2011 - Inner House Rules

The introduction of the new arrangements is being overseen by an Implementation Group formed by the Lord President. The members of the group are:

  • The Rt Hon Lord Reed (Chair)
  • Andrew Young, QC, Faculty of Advocates
  • Gordon Keyden, Law Society of Scotland
  • Tom Murray, Scottish Legal Aid Board
  • Graeme Combe, Keeper of the Rolls
  • Elaine Dickson, Inner House Clerk
  • Robert Jenkins, Acting Deputy Principal Clerk of Session
  • David Morris, Director of IT, Scottish Court Service
  • David Smith, Deputy Legal Secretary to the Lord President

Feedback on the new arrangements will be welcome and issues can be raised with or through any of the members of the Implementation Group