71 First diet.S
(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 257(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 any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 72(1) of this Act 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)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.
(4)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.
(5)A first diet may proceed notwithstanding the absence of the accused.
(6)The accused shall, at the first diet, be required to state how he pleads to the indictment, and section 77 of this Act shall apply where he tenders a plea of guilty.
(7)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.
(8)Subject to subsection (7) above, the court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, adjourn a first diet.
(9)In this section “the court” means the sheriff court.