Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995

13 First and preliminary diets in solemn proceedings

(1) In section 75 of the 1975 Act (notice of trial diet), after the word “at” there shall be inserted—

“(a) where the case is to be tried in the sheriff court, a first diet not less than 15 clear days after the service of the indictment and not less than 10 clear days before the trial diet; and

(b)”.

(2) After section 75 of that Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“75A First diet

(1) At a first diet the court shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ascertain whether the case is likely to proceed to trial on the date assigned as the trial diet and, in particular—

(a) the state of preparation of the prosecutor and of the accused with respect to their cases; and

(b) the extent to which the prosecutor and the accused have complied with the duty under section 84A(1) of this Act.

(2) In addition to the matters mentioned in subsection (1) above the court shall, at a first diet, consider any matter mentioned in subsection (3) below of which a party has, not less than two clear days before the first diet, given notice to the court and to the other parties.

(3) The matters referred to in subsection (2) above are—

(a) that the party intends to raise a matter relating to the competency or relevancy of the indictment or to raise an objection such as is mentioned in section 108(1) of this Act;

(b) that he intends to submit a plea in bar of trial or to apply for separation or conjunction of charges or trials or to raise a preliminary objection under section 67 of this Act or to make an application under section 151(2) of this Act;

(c) that there are documents the truth of the contents of which ought in his view to be admitted, or that there is any other matter which in his view ought to be agreed; and

(d) that there is some other matter which could in his opinion be resolved with advantage before the trial.

(4) At a first diet the court may ask the prosecutor and the accused any question in connection with any matter which it is required to ascertain or consider under subsection (1) or (2) above.

(5) The accused shall attend a first diet of which he has been given notice and the court may, if he fails to do so, grant a warrant to apprehend him.

(6) A first diet may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused.

(7) The accused shall, at the first diet, be required to state how he pleads to the indictment, and section 103 of this Act shall apply where he tenders a plea of guilty.

(8) Where at a first diet the court concludes that the case is unlikely to proceed to trial on the date assigned for the trial diet, the court—

(a) shall, unless having regard to previous proceedings in the case it considers it inappropriate to do so, postpone the trial diet; and

(b) may fix a further first diet.

(9) Subject to subsection (8) above, the court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, adjourn a first diet.

(10) In this section “the court” means the sheriff court.”.

(3) In section 76 of that Act (preliminary diet)—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) after the words “where a party” there shall be inserted “to a case which is to be tried in the High Court”; and

(ii) for the words “court before which the trial is to take place” there shall be substituted “High Court”; and

(b) after subsection (6) there shall be inserted the following subsections—

“(6A) At a preliminary diet the court shall, in addition to disposing of any matter specified in a notice given under subsection (1) above or referred to in subsection (3) above, ascertain, so far as is reasonably practicable, whether the case is likely to proceed to trial on the date assigned as the trial diet and, in particular—

(a) the state of preparation of the prosecutor and of the accused with respect to their cases; and

(b) the extent to which the prosecutor and the accused have complied with the duty under section 84A(1) of this Act.

(6B) At a preliminary diet the court may ask the prosecutor and the accused any question in connection with any matter specified in a notice under subsection (1) above or referred to in subsection (3) above or which it is required to ascertain under subsection (6A) above.

(6C) Where at a preliminary diet the court concludes that the case is unlikely to proceed to trial on the date assigned for the trial diet, the court—

(a) shall, unless having regard to previous proceedings in the case it considers it inappropriate to do so, postpone the trial diet; and

(b) may fix a further preliminary diet.

(6D) Subject to subsection (6C) above, the court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, adjourn a preliminary diet.”.

(4) In section 76A(1) of that Act (appeal in connection with preliminary diet), for the words “preliminary diet” there shall be substituted “first diet or a preliminary diet, other than a decision to adjourn the diet or to postpone the trial diet”.