(1)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)The Scottish Ministers may[F2, following submission of a proposal under subsection (7),] by order establish courts of summary criminal jurisdiction to be known as justice of the peace courts.
(3)JP courts are to be established by reference to a particular sheriff court district.
(4)There is to be at least one JP court located in every sheriff court district except where, in relation to a district, the [F3Lord President of the Court of Session determines] that a JP court is not necessary.
(5)In determining for the purposes of subsection (4) whether a JP court is necessary, the [F4Lord President] must have regard to—
(a)the amount of summary criminal court business in the district, and
(b)the capacity of—
(i)other JP courts in the same sheriffdom,
(ii)the sheriff courts in that sheriffdom.
(6)The Scottish Ministers may[F5, following submission of a proposal under subsection (7),] by order provide for—
(a)the relocation of a JP court,
(b)the disestablishment of a JP court.
[F6(7)The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service may, with the agreement of the Lord President, submit a proposal to the Scottish Ministers for the making of an order under subsection (2) or (6).
(7A)Before submitting a proposal to the Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service must consult such persons as it considers appropriate.
(7B)If, following submission of a proposal, the Scottish Ministers decide to make an order, they must have regard to the proposal in deciding what provision to make in the order.
(7C)The Scottish Ministers may make an order under subsection (2) or (6) only with the consent of—
(a)the Lord President, and
(b)the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.]
(8)This section—
(a)F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)does not affect the operation of the sheriff court.
(9)In this Part—
a “district court”is a court of that name established under the 1975 Act,
a “JP court”is a justice of the peace court,
a “JP”is a justice of the peace.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 59(1) repealed (1.4.2010) by Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 6), ss. 57(2)(a), 76; S.S.I. 2010/39, art. 2, Sch.
F2Words in s. 59(2) inserted (1.4.2015) by Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 18), ss. 127(2), 138(2); S.S.I. 2015/77, art. 2(2)(3), sch.
F3Words in s. 59(4) substituted (1.4.2010) by Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 6), ss. 57(2)(b), 76; S.S.I. 2010/39, art. 2, Sch.
F4Words in s. 59(5) substituted (1.4.2010) by Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 6), ss. 57(2)(c), 76; S.S.I. 2010/39, art. 2, Sch.
F5Words in s. 59(6) inserted (1.4.2015) by Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 18), ss. 127(2), 138(2); S.S.I. 2015/77, art. 2(2)(3), sch.
F6S. 59(7)-(7C) substituted for s. 59(7)(7A) (1.4.2015) by Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 18), ss. 127(3), 138(2); S.S.I. 2015/77, art. 2(2)(3), sch.
F7S. 59(8)(a) and following word repealed (1.4.2010) by Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 6), ss. 73, 76, Sch. 5 para. 5(3)(a); S.S.I. 2010/39, art. 2, Sch.
Commencement Information
I1S. 59 wholly in force at 22.2.2010; s. 59 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 84; s. 59 in force for certain purposes at 10.12.2007, 10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009, 14.12.2009 and 22.2.2010 otherwise by S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3(1)(2), Sch. 1, Sch. 2