Justiciary Court

views updated

Justiciary Court (Scotland). The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. It was established in 1672, and consisted of the lord justice general, the lord justice clerk, and five of the lords of Session. From 1887 all lords of Session have been lords commissioners of Justiciary. The court has jurisdiction over serious crimes in Scotland and also acts as a court of appeal. Since 1836 the lord president of the Court of Session has also held the office of lord justice general and presides.

J. A. Cannon