Sheriff Appeal Court

Sheriff Appeal Court
Royal Court of Arms of the United Kingdom as used by the courts in Scotland
EstablishedCriminal: September 22, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-09-22)
Civil: January 1, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-01-01)
JurisdictionScotland
LocationParliament House, Edinburgh (civil)
Justiciary Building, Edinburgh (criminal)
Composition methodAppointed by the Lord President
Authorised byCourts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014
Appeals toCriminal: Appeals on points of law to High Court of Justiciary
Civil: Appeals on points of law to Inner House of the Court of Session
Judge term length5 years (except sheriffs principal who hold office ex officio)
Websitewww.scotcourts.gov.uk

The Sheriff Appeal Court (Scottish Gaelic: Cùirt Ath-thagraidh an t-Siorraim) is a court in Scotland that hears appeals from summary criminal proceedings in the sheriff courts and justice of the peace courts, and hears appeals on bail decisions made in solemn proceedings in the sheriff court. The Sheriff Appeal Court also hears appeals in civil cases from the sheriff courts, including the Sheriff Personal Injury Court.

The Sheriff Appeal Court was established for criminal appeals on 22 September 2015, as part of Lord Gill’s Scottish Civil Courts Reforms, to deal with criminal appeals. The bench, there is no jury, generally comprises two or three appeal sheriffs depending on the type of appeal to be considered. Bail hearings are presided over by a single appeal sheriff. The criminal court sits in the Justiciary Building in the Lawnmarket in Edinburgh.

The court's jurisdiction was extended to civil appeals on 1 September 2016, before that date civil appeals were heard either by the sheriff principal for each sheriffdom or by the Inner House of Court of Session.