Justice of the Peace Court

The Justice of the Peace Court (JP Court) is a summary criminal court in Scotland that deals with less serious criminal offenses. Established in 2008, it replaced the earlier District Courts, creating a unified system under the management of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). It is presided over by lay magistrates known as Justices of the Peace, supported by legally qualified court clerks.https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2004/03/19042/34181

 Jurisdiction 
 Minor criminal offenses, such as traffic violations, breach of the peace, and petty theft.
 Cases punishable by fines or imprisonment of up to 60 days.
 Local ordinance and bylaw violations.https://web.archive.org/web/20110728004515/http://www.scottishjustices.org/index/cms-filesystem-action/resourcespublic/district_courts_ajmyoung.pdf

 Appointment of Justices 
Justices of the Peace are:

 Appointed by the Scottish Ministers on the recommendation of local advisory committees.
 Trained in Scottish criminal law and court procedure.http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2007/asp_20070006_en_10#pt4
 Required to undergo regular continuing education to maintain their competence.

 Appeals 
Decisions made by the JP Court can be appealed to the Sheriff Appeal Court, which reviews cases on both legal and procedural grounds.

 History 
The JP Court was created under the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 as part of reforms to streamline Scotland's summary criminal justice system. It replaced the District Courts, which had been managed by local authorities.

 Role in the Community 
The JP Court plays an essential role in ensuring access to justice for minor offenses at a local level. It reflects community values through its lay magistrates, who bring a non-legal perspective to the judiciary.

 Related pages 

 Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
 Sheriff Court
 High Court of Justiciary
 Judiciary of Scotland

 References 

 Other websites 

 Justice of the Peace Court (SCTS website) 
 Information for court users

Category:Courts of Scotland