Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014

100 Vexatious litigation orders

(1) The Inner House may, on the application of the Lord Advocate, make a vexatious litigation order in relation to a person (a “vexatious litigant”).

(2) A vexatious litigation order is an order which has either or both of the following effects—

(a) the vexatious litigant may institute civil proceedings only with the permission of a judge of the Outer House,

(b) the vexatious litigant may take a specified step in specified ongoing civil proceedings only with such permission.

(3) In subsection (2)(b)—

(a) “specified ongoing civil proceedings” means civil proceedings which—

(i) were instituted by the vexatious litigant before the order was made, and

(ii) are specified in the order,

(b) “specified step” means a step specified in the order.

(4) A vexatious litigation order has effect—

(a) during such period as is specified in the order, or

(b) if no period is so specified, indefinitely.

(5) In this section and section 101—

(a) “the Inner House” means the Inner House of the Court of Session,

(b) “the Outer House” means the Outer House of the Court of Session,

(c) “vexatious litigant” means, in relation to a vexatious litigation order, the person to whom the order relates,

(d) “vexatious litigation order” means an order made under subsection (1).