List of courts in Scotland

The courts of Scotland are part of the Scottish legal system. Each court has its own jurisdiction and in many cases, a right of appeal lies from one to another. Courts apply Scots law. Criminal cases are prosecuted by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.^[1] Scotland's supreme criminal court is the High Court of Justiciary. ^[2] The Court of Session is the supreme Scottish civil court^[3] but UK-wide courts can review decisions of great public or constitutional importance.

Scots law is developed and interpreted by the courts of Scotland, particularly the supreme courts. Most civil law disputes will be resolved by the lower courts or tribunals. A great number of disputes are resolved extrajudicially. Scots law provides for the binding settlement of civil disputes, including through voluntary mediation, and arbitration. An increasing number of ombudsmen and other authorities have the authority to resolve disputes. The Procurator Fiscal Service obviates the criminal courts in many cases through the use of fiscal fines and other alternatives to prosecution. While most prosecutions will result in a plea of guilty, accused persons must still appear in court to plead guilty and for sentencing. All bail proceedings in Scotland are heard in the sheriff courts, regardless of the court in which the accused might eventually be prosecuted.

Supranational courts[edit]

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (formerly the House of Lords, whose decisions are still binding).
Prior to the British exit from the European Union, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) had exclusive jurisdiction over the interpretation of European law.
The European Court of Human Rights is not related to the European Union and continues to have jurisdiction to hear cases from Scotland, but its powers are essentially advisory.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is, in practice, a court of the United Kingdom. The jurisdiction it held from 2005 until 2009 over devolution disputes has been transferred to the UK Supreme Court. It continues to have jurisdiction over disputes arising around Scottish constituencies under the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.

Supreme Courts[edit]

Supreme Courts of Scotland
- Court of Session
- High Court of Justiciary
- Office of the Accountant of Court
- Auditor of the Court of Session

Sheriff Courts[edit]

Some Sheriff courts in Scotland also operate as a Justice of the Peace Court. Such courts, which serve as both a Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court is noted below:

A–F[edit]

Aberdeen Civil Justice Centre and Commercial Courts
Aberdeen Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Airdrie Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court Annexe
Alloa Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Ayr Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Banff Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Campbeltown Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Dumbarton Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Dumfries Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Dundee Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Dunfermline Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Dunoon Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Elgin Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

F–O[edit]

Falkirk Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Forfar Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Fort William Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Glasgow Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Greenock Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Hamilton Sheriff Court
Inverness Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Jedburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Kirkwall Sheriff Court
Lanark Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Lerwick Sheriff Court
Livingston Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Lochmaddy Sheriff Court

O–Z[edit]

Oban Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Paisley Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Perth Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Peterhead Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Portree Sheriff Court
Selkirk Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Stirling Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Sheriff Appeal Court
Stornoway Sheriff Court
Stranraer Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Tain Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Wick Sheriff Court

Justice of the Peace courts[edit]

Separate Justice of the peace courts, not part of a Sheriff Court, are noted below:

Hamilton Justice of the Peace Court
Lochgilphead Justice of the Peace Court

Specialist courts[edit]

Historical courts[edit]

References[edit]

^ "Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service". www.mygov.scot. Scottish Government. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
^ "Supreme Courts". www.scotscourts.gov.uk. Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
^ "Court of Session". www.scotscourts.gov.uk. Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. Retrieved 28 January 2024.

[1] "Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service". www.mygov.scot. Scottish Government. Retrieved 28 January 2024.

[2] "Supreme Courts". www.scotscourts.gov.uk. Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. Retrieved 28 January 2024.

[3] "Court of Session". www.scotscourts.gov.uk. Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. Retrieved 28 January 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Courts of Scotland
Administration (Executive)	Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice Judicial Appointments Board Scottish Children's Reporter Administration Crown Office Lord Advocate Solicitor General for Scotland Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
Administration (Judicial)	Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Judicial Office for Scotland College of Justice Act of Sederunt Scottish Civil Justice Council Act of Adjournal Criminal Courts Rules Council Office of the Public Guardian Scottish Sentencing Council
Judiciary	Lord President Lord Justice Clerk Senator of the College of Justice Lord Lyon King of Arms Sheriff principal Appeal Sheriff Sheriff Justice of the peace
Civil courts	Supreme Court Court of Session Office of the Accountant of Court Auditor of the Court of Session Sheriff Appeal Court Sheriff Personal Injury Court Sheriff court
Criminal courts	High Court of Justiciary Sheriff Appeal Court Sheriff court Justice of the peace court
Specialist courts	Court of the Lord Lyon Scottish Land Court Lands Tribunal for Scotland Children's hearing
Legal profession	Faculty of Advocates Advocate Law Society of Scotland Solicitor Solicitor advocate Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal
Historical courts	Admiralty Court District courts Court of Exchequer High Court of Constabulary

v t e Criminal justice system of Scotland
Administration	Scottish Government Justice Directorate Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Minister for Victims and Community Safety
Investigation	Police Scotland Scottish Police Authority Police Investigations and Review Commissioner HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Specialist reporting agency National Crime Agency
Prosecution	Crown Office Lord Advocate Solicitor General for Scotland Advocate Depute Procurator Fiscal Precognition Criminal law
Criminal courts	Courts of Scotland Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Scottish Sentencing Council High Court of Justiciary Lord Justice General Lord Justice Clerk Lords Commissioners of Justiciary Act of Adjournal Lord Advocate's Reference Sheriff Court Sheriff Appeal Court Justice of the Peace Courts
Punishment	Scottish Prison Service HM Inspectorate of Prisons Order for Lifelong Restriction Parole Board for Scotland Risk Management Authority Fiscal fine Admonition