Part I Criminal Courts
Jurisdiction and Powers
F1Sittings of sheriff and JP courts
8F2Sittings of sheriff and JP courts.
1
Notwithstanding any enactment or rule of law, a sheriff court or a F3JP court—
a
shall not be required to sit on any Saturday or Sunday or on a day which by virtue of subsection (2) or (3) below is a court holiday; but
b
may sit on any day for the disposal of criminal business.
2
A sheriff principal may in an order made under F9section 28(1) of the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 prescribe in respect of criminal business not more than F811 days, other than Saturdays and Sundays, in a calendar year as court holidays in the sheriff courts within his jurisdiction; and may in the like manner prescribe as an additional court holiday any day which has been proclaimed, under section 1(3) of the M1Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, to be a bank holiday either throughout the United Kingdom or in a place or locality in the United Kingdom within his jurisdiction.
3
F4A sheriff principal may prescribe not more than F811 days, other than Saturdays and Sundays, in a calendar year as court holidays in the F5JP courts within his jurisdiction; and he may F7. . . prescribe as an additional holiday any day which has been proclaimed, under section 1(3) of the said Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, to be a bank holiday either throughout the United Kingdom or in a place or locality in the United Kingdom within his jurisdiction.
4
A sheriff principal may in pursuance of subsection (2) or (3) above prescribe different days as court holidays in relation to different sheriff or F6JP courts .
S. 8 cross-heading substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 9(5)(d); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2