Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
{{More citations needed|date=April 2018}}{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}{{Infobox UK legislation
|short_title = Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008
|type = Act
|parliament = Scottish Parliament
|long_title =An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the judiciary and the courts; to establish the Scottish Court Service; and for connected purposes.
|year = 2008
|citation = 2008 asp 6
|introduced_by = Kenny MacAskill
|territorial_extent = Scotland
|si_made_date =
|si_laid_date =
|royal_assent = 29 October 2008
|repeal_date =
|replaces =
|primary_legislation =
|eu_directives =
|amendments =
|related_legislation =
|repealing_legislation=
|status = Amended
|original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/6/contents/enacted
|revised_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/6/contents/
|legislation_history = http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/16399.aspx
|use_new_UK-LEG = yes
|UK-LEG_title =
}}
The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament passed in October 2008 to reform the courts of Scotland, to give statutory force to judicial independence, and to establish the Lord President of the Court of Session as Head of the Judiciary of Scotland.
History
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Provisions
= Judicial independence =
Judicial independence is enshrined by Section 1 of the Act, which stipulates specific duties to uphold judicial independence on:
- The First Minister of Scotland
- The Lord Advocate
- The Scottish Ministers
- Members of the Scottish Parliament
- and others "with responsibility for matters relating to the judiciary or the administration of justice" in Scotland;{{Cite legislation Scotland|type=act|year=2008|chapter=6|act=Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008}}{{Rp|Section 1}}
All of those specified are barred from using any form of special access to influence the judgements or decisions made by the judiciary of Scotland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/22/0/Judicial-Independence|title=Judicial Independence - Judiciary of Scotland|last=|first=|date=|website=www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-04-12}}