Sheriff officer

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A sheriff officer is an officer of the Scottish Sheriff Court, responsible for serving documents and enforcing court orders. The jurisdiction of a sheriff officer is limited to the area of their commission (the relevant sheriffdom or Sheriff Court district), unlike messengers-at-arms (the equivalent officers of the Court of Session, who have jurisdiction throughout Scotland). Both messengers-at-arms and sheriff officers are employed by private businesses and charge fees that are set by Act of Sederunt.[1][2]

Sheriff officers have been under the control of the local Sheriff for centuries. The office of sheriff officer is thought to be one of the oldest in the Scottish legal system, and may derive from the pre-feudal office of mair (an official who attended a sheriff for arrestment or executions).[3]

Section 60 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 will abolish the offices of messenger-at-arms and sheriff officer and replace them by a new office of "judicial officer". Judicial officers will hold a commission from the Lord President of the Court of Session under section 57 of the Act, granted on the recommendation of the Scottish Civil Enforcement Commission.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chapter 5 - Citation, Service and Intimation : Act of Sederunt (Sheriff Court Ordinary Cause Rules) 1993. Scottish Court Service. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
  2. ^ Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) 2004 : Scottish Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 513. Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
  3. ^ Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers: Background. The Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.
  4. ^ Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007: Section 60 - Abolition of offices of messenger-at-arms and sheriff officer. UK Statute Law Database. Retrieved on 2007-11-23.

[edit] External links

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