Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court
The Sheriff Court deals with crimes more serious than the Justice of the Peace courts up to the most serious types of crime such as rape or murder that are dealt with by the High Court.
The Sheriff court deals with both criminal and civil cases. Examples of criminal issues include drugs, serious assault, theft and criminal damage. Examples of civil issues include fines, civil actions, bankruptcy actions and adoption cases.
A convicted person can appeal to the High Court in criminal cases and in civil cases a convicted person can appeal to the Sheriff Principle and on to the Court of Session, Scotland's supreme civil court.
There are two types of procedures in the Sheriff Court, summary and solemn procedures.