This Order brings Part 1 of the Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Act 2013 (asp 3) (the “2013 Act”) into force on 28th May 2013, establishing the Scottish Civil Justice Council (“SCJC”) and dissolving the Sheriff Court Rules Council and the Court of Session Rules Council.

Article 3 makes transitional and transitory provisions.

Paragraph (1) requires the SCJC’s first report on its activities to cover the period 28th May 2013 until 31st March 2014.

Paragraphs (2) and (3) provide that where the Court of Session has, prior to the coming into force of the 2013 Act, fulfilled its statutory obligation to consult with a rules Council about a particular act of sederunt, then such consultation will be taken to have fulfilled its new obligation to consult the SCJC with respect to that act of sederunt, should the Court only make that act after Part 1 of the 2013 Act comes into force.

The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 5th March 2013. Sections 24 to 26 came into force on the following day.