SCJC annual report details preparation for court changes

The second annual report of the Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC), and its annual programme for 2015-16, have been published today.

Covering the year 2014-15, the annual report lists the key achievements of the year as including implementation of civil courts reform under the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, with preparation of the court rules required for civil courts reform; consideration of Sheriff Principal Taylor’s Review into Expenses and Funding of Civil Litigation and preparation of rules for enforcements/sanctions; setting up the multi-year Rules Rewrite Project to consolidate, harmonise and simplify rules of the civil courts, along with publication of the Rules Rewrite Working Group’s Final Report and establishment of the Rules Rewrite Committee; and publication of the Access to Justice Committee’s literature reviews on party litigants and alternative dispute resolution.

The annual programme describes how the SCJC will continue with this work during 2015-16, along with specific projects such as lay representation for non-natural persons, vexatious proceedings and all-Scotland interdicts and other orders; preparation of the simple procedure personal injury rules; wider consideration of compulsory pre-action protocols; and preparatory work for the new tribunal rules provided for in the Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014.

The Lord President, Lord Gill, chairman of the SCJC said: “The second Annual Report of the Scottish Civil Justice Council describes considerable progress in the implementation of civil courts reform. This would not have happened without the hard work of the Council and its committees. I am grateful to all the members who give freely of their time and expertise to bring about improvements in access to justice in Scotland.”

Click here to access the publications.