District court (Scotland)

District courts of Scotland
Flag of Scotland
Established1975
Dissolved2010
Jurisdictiondistricts of Scotland
Composition methodAppointed by Commission of the Peace for each district
Authorised byDistrict Courts (Scotland) Act 1975
Appeals toHigh Court of Justiciary
Judge term lengthnot specified
Number of positionsBench of either three lay justices of the peace, or one stipendiary magistrate

A district court was the least authoritative type of criminal court of Scotland. The courts operated under summary procedure and dealt primarily with minor criminal offences. The district courts were administered by the district councils established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Following the passage of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 by the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Ministers abolished the district courts and transferred their functions to the justice of the peace courts, which are administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and subject to the authority of the Lord President of the Court of Session.


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