Edinburgh Sheriff Court

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

Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
55.9478°N 3.1906°W / 55.9478; -3.1906
LocationEdinburgh, Scotland
Coordinates55.9478°N 3.1906°W / 55.9478; -3.1906
Number of positions13
Sheriff Principal
CurrentlyNigel Ross
Since2022

History
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 they 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 using solemn procedure 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. "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. "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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