Edinburgh Sheriff Court

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Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court, Edinburgh.jpg
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
55°56′52″N3°11′26″W / 55.9478°N 3.1906°W / 55.9478; -3.1906
LocationEdinburgh, Scotland
Coordinates 55°56′52″N3°11′26″W / 55.9478°N 3.1906°W / 55.9478; -3.1906
Number of positions13
Sheriff Principal
CurrentlyNigel Ross
Since2022

Edinburgh Sheriff Court is a sheriff court in Chambers Street in Edinburgh, within the sheriffdom of Edinburgh and Borders.

Contents

History

A courtroom in Edinburgh Sheriff Court Courtroom in Edinburgh Sheriff Court (2892867378).jpg
A courtroom in Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Until the mid-1990s, hearings took place in the Old Sheriff Court in the Lawnmarket. [1] However, as the number of court cases in Edinburgh grew, it became necessary to commission a modern courthouse for criminal matters. The site the court officials selected had previously been occupied by a part of Heriot-Watt University. [2] [3]

The new courthouse was designed by John Kirkwood Wilson of PSA Projects, [4] built in buff sandstone [5] at a cost of £47 million, [2] and was officially opened to the public by the sheriff principal, Gordon Nicholson, in September 1994. [6] [7] [8] The Cowgate elevation is eight storeys high and public access is to be building, which on the fourth level, is from Chambers Street. [4] Internally, the building was laid out to accommodate 16 courtrooms. [9]

Operations

The court deals with both criminal and civil cases. There are currently thirteen sheriffs in post at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. [10] They sit alone in civil cases and are assisted by a jury of fifteen members selected from the electoral roll in some criminal cases (cases involving solemn proceedings only). The Sheriff Principal is Nigel Ross who was appointed in 2022. [11]

References

  1. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "High Court (Former Sheriff Court), 413-431 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh (LB27598)" . Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. ↑ Lawrie, Scott J. (1 May 1996). "The Edinburgh College of Art (1904 - 1969): A Study in Institutional History" (PDF). Edinburgh College of Art (Heriot Watt University). p. 3. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Scottish Courts". Historic Scotland. 1 October 2014. p. 28. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sheriff Courthouse, Edinburgh". Stirling Stone. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court". Scottish Courts and Tribunals. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Alan (2015). Tracing Your Edinburgh Ancestors: A Guide for Family and Local Historians. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN   978-1473879348.
  8. ↑ "New £47m courthouse gathers all under one roof again". Herald Scotland. 13 September 1994. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Doors Open Days at Edinburgh Sheriff Court". Citizens Advice Edinburgh. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "List of Scottish sheriffs". Scottish Courts and Tribunals. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Nigel Ross appointed as sheriff principal of Lothian and Borders". Scottish Legal News. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
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