Kilmarnock Sheriff Court
{{short description|Judicial building in Kilmarnock, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Kilmarnock Sheriff Court
| native_name =
| image = Sheriff Court House, Kilmarnock - geograph.org.uk - 5078088.jpg
| caption =The building in 2016
| locmapin =Scotland East Ayrshire
| map_caption =Shown in East Ayrshire
| coordinates ={{Coord| 55.6072 |N| 4.4996 |W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location = St Marnock Street, Kilmarnock
| area =
| built =1986
| architect = Property Services Agency
| architecture = Modern style
| governing_body =
| website=
}}
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court is a judicial building on St Marnock Street in Kilmarnock in Scotland. The building operates as a courthouse within the sheriffdom of North Strathclyde.
History
Until the mid-1980s, hearings took place at the Old Sheriff Court in St Marnock Street.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB35964|desc= St Marnock Street, Procurator Fiscal's Office (former court house) including boundary walls and railings|cat=B|access-date=28 September 2024}}{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5R8NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA258 |title= The History of Kilmarnock |first= Archibald|last= M'Kay |year= 1858|page=258|publisher=Kames M'Kie}}{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=n1RRAQAAIAAJ |title=The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland |volume=32 |year=1987|page=101}} However, as the number of court cases in Kilmarnock grew, it became necessary to commission a modern courthouse for criminal matters. The site court officials selected was on the south side of St Marnock Street facing the Old Sheriff Court.{{cite web |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.5&lat=55.6072&lon=-4.4996&layers=6&b=1&o=100&marker=55.6072,-4.4996|title=Ordnance Survey Six-inch 1st edition, 1843–1882 |access-date=28 September 2024}} The new building was designed by the Property Services Agency in the modern style, built in red sandstone and was officially opened in December 1986.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/courts-and-tribunals/courts-tribunals-and-office-locations/find-us/kilmarnock-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court/ |title=Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court|publisher=Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service| access-date=28 September 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1986/jun/04/procurator-fiscal-kilmarnock |title=Procurator Fiscal (Kilmarnock)|date=4 June 1986|publisher=Hansard| access-date=28 September 2024}}{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QQxNAAAAYAAJ |title=Ayrshire & Arran An Illustrated Architectural Guide |first= Rob |last=Close |year= 1992 |page=105|publisher=Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland|isbn=978-1873190067}}
The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage of four bays facing onto St Marnock Street with the right-hand bay projected forward. The second bay on the left contained a short flight of steps leading up to a recessed glass doorway, which was flanked by lancet windows; there was a large casement window on the first floor, also flanked by lancet windows. The first bay on the left was fenestrated by lancet windows on both floors, while the third bay was fenestrated by sets of three lancet windows on both floors. The corner between the third and fourth bays was canted and fenestrated with casement windows on both floors. The right-hand bay was fenestrated by lancet windows on both floors on the left-hand side, and featured a Royal coat of arms high up on the wall on the right-hand side.{{cite web|url= https://www.alamy.com/exterior-of-and-entrance-to-kilmarnock-sheriff-court-one-of-scotlands-busiest-courts-opened-in-1986-it-also-houses-the-justice-of-the-peace-court-image216299886.html |title= Exterior of and entrance to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, one of Scotland's busiest courts, opened in 1986. It also houses the Justice of the Peace court.|publisher=Alamy| access-date=28 September 2024}} Internally, the building was laid out to accommodate six courtrooms.{{cite web|url= https://prisonsinspectoratescotland.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publication_files/00393863.pdf|title= Inspection of the Conditions in which Prisoners are Transported and Held in Sheriff and JP Courts while Under Escort|date=20 March 2012|publisher= H. M. Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland| access-date=22 September 2024|page=103}}
Operations
The court deals with both criminal and civil cases. There are currently five sheriffs in post at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.{{cite web|url= https://www.judiciary.scot/home/judiciary/judicial-office-holders/sheriffs/sheriffs-1/sheriffs|title=List of Scottish sheriffs| publisher=Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service|access-date=28 September 2024}} They sit alone in civil cases and are assisted by a jury of fifteen members selected from the electoral roll in some criminal cases (cases involving solemn proceedings only). The Sheriff Principal is Sean Murphy.{{cite web|url= https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/legal-news/three-new-sheriffs-principal-appointed/ |title= Three new sheriffs principal appointed|date=19 January 2023|publisher=Law Society of Scotland| access-date=28 September 2024}}