PART 1SHERIFF COURTS
CHAPTER 3ORGANISATION OF BUSINESS
Judicial specialisation
35Designation of specialist judiciary
1
This section applies where the Lord President of the Court of Session has made a direction under section 34.
2
The sheriff principal of a sheriffdom may—
a
in relation to any category of case determined in the direction that may competently be dealt with by a sheriff, designate one or more sheriffs of the sheriffdom as specialists in that category of case,
b
in relation to any category of case determined in the direction that may competently be dealt with by a summary sheriff, designate one or more summary sheriffs of the sheriffdom as specialists in that category of case.
3
The sheriff principal may designate the same sheriff or summary sheriff in relation to more than one category of case determined in the direction.
4
The sheriff principal of a sheriffdom may at any time withdraw a designation made (whether by that sheriff principal or another) under subsection (2) in relation to any sheriff, or summary sheriff, of the sheriffdom.
5
The Lord President may—
a
in relation to any category of case determined in the direction that may competently be dealt with by a part-time sheriff, designate one or more part-time sheriffs as specialists in that category,
b
in relation to any category of case determined in the direction that may competently be dealt with by a part-time summary sheriff, designate one or more part-time summary sheriffs as specialists in that category.
6
The Lord President may at any time withdraw a designation made under subsection (5).
7
The designation of a sheriff, summary sheriff, part-time sheriff or part-time summary sheriff (a “designated judicial officer”) under this section does not affect—
a
the designated judicial officer’s competence to deal with any category of case other than the one in relation to which the designation is made, or
b
the competence of any other sheriff, summary sheriff, part-time sheriff or part-time summary sheriff to deal with the category of case in relation to which the designation is made.