Interdicts in Scots law

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In Scots law, an interdict is a court order to stop someone from breaching someone else's rights. [1] They can be issued by the Court of Session or a Sheriff Court. The equivalent term in England is an injunction. A temporary interdict is called an interim interdict. [2] A court will grant an interim interdict if there is a prima facie case and on the balance of convenience the remedy should be granted. [3] Breaching an interdict can result in a fine or imprisonment. [4]

Scots law hybrid legal system of Scotland, containing civil law and common law elements

Scots law is the legal system of Scotland. It is a hybrid or mixed legal system containing civil law and common law elements, that traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. Together with English law and Northern Irish law, it is one of the three legal systems of the United Kingdom.

Court of Session

The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a trial court and a court of appeal. Decisions of the Court can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, with the permission of either the Inner House or the Supreme Court. The Court of Session and the local sheriff courts of Scotland have concurrent jurisdiction for all cases with a monetary value in excess of £100,000; the pursuer is given first choice of court. However, the majority of complex, important, or high value cases are brought in the Court of Session. Cases can be remitted to the Court of Session from the sheriff courts, including the Sheriff Personal Injury Court, at the request of the presiding sheriff. Legal aid, administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, is available to persons with little disposable income for cases in the Court of Session.

Sheriff court

A sheriff court is the principal local civil and criminal court in Scotland, with exclusive jurisdiction over all civil cases with a monetary value up to £100,000, and with the jurisdiction to hear any criminal case except treason, murder, and rape which are in the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of Justiciary. Though the sheriff courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the High Court over armed robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual offences involving children, the vast majority of these cases are heard by the High Court. Each court serves a sheriff court district within one of the six sheriffdoms of Scotland. Each sheriff court is presided over by a sheriff, who is a legally qualified judge, and part of the judiciary of Scotland.

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References

  1. Campbell, Kenneth (29 July 2015). "Interdicts and Exposure". DWF. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. Hennessy, Charles (2014). Civil Procedure & Practice (4th ed.). W. Green. p. 185.
  3. MacQueen, Hector (2007). Contract Law in Scotland (2nd ed.). Tottel Publishing. p. 223.
  4. Breakey, Leon (9 January 2015). "Breach of interdict – a cautionary tale". MacRoberts LLP. Retrieved 17 May 2016.