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LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 23
SECTION III.— LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
COURTS OF LAW.
CIRCUIT COURT OF JUSTICIARY.
The Circuit Court of Justiciary, for the counties of Aberdeen
Banff, and Kincardine, meets at Aberdeen twice a year, in the
months of April and September, for the trial of criminal cases, by
one or two of the Lords. Appeals, in certain civil cases, from the
inferior courts, are also heard by this court.
SHERIFF COURT.
The Sheriff is Judge Ordinary of his Sheriffdom or Shire, and,
accordingly, judges at present in all actions and causes, not spe-
cially, by law or usage, appropriated to other courts. Thus, all
personal causes, actions of debt, of whatever amount, possessory
actions, claims for aliment by paupers, and such like, belong to his
court. Processes of cessio and admiralty causes are, by late Acts,
made competent in this court-
The Sheriff's criminal jurisdiction formerly embraced even
capital punishments, but it is now much limited. He holds a
criminal court at least twice a year, in April and September.
The Sheriff also exercises certain ministerial duties. He receives
the royal revenues — returns the assize or jury to the Justiciary
Court — presides at the election, and returns to Chancery the names
of the persons elected to serve in Parliament for the city and
county — strikes the fiars of all grain, &c. within the county, &c.
Andrew Murray of Murrayshall, advocate, Sheriff
William Watson, W.S., \ c , .„ .....
William Gordon, advocate, J M
James Skelton, W.S., Sheriff substitute at Peterhead
James Gordon of Craig, advocate, Sheriff clerk
Francis Gordon, advocate, ~)
John Dunn, advocate, > Clerks-depute
George Leslie, J
James Reid, Clerk-depute at Peterhead
William Simpson, advocate, Procurator Fiscal
John D. Milne and A. Henderson, advocates, Assistants
William Gordon and Alex. Mitchell, advocates, Auditors
Robert Shaw, liar Officer
The Court days are Wednesdays and Fridays, at Ten o'clock,
a.m., during the sessions, which extend from the first Court day
(Wednesday or Friday) after 15th May, to the last Court day in
July, and from the first after 15th October to 4th April inclusive.
COMMISSARY COUIiT.
The Commissary Court came in place of the Bishops or Con-
sistorial Court, which formerly exercised extensive jursidiction.
It claimed jurisdiction in all ecclesiastical matters, which its judges
extended very widely. Thus, actions of divorce, adultery, bas
tardy, tithes, patronage, scandal, breach of vows, confirming the
testament of persons deceased, &c. came to be appropriated to this
Court. By 4 Geo. IV. c 97, the Sheriff is appointed Commissary,
and the Commissariat and the Sheriffdom are made co-extensive.
Actions of declarator of marriage, divorce, &c- are transferred to
the Court of Session, and the chief business of the Commissariat
is now to confirm testaments, &c.
Andrew Murray of Murrayshall, Commissary
Wm. Watson and Win, Gordon, Commissary-Deputes
Alexander Gordon, advocate, Commissary- Clerk
John Grant Leslie, Commissary Clerk-Depute
William Simpson, Procurator- Fiscal
John D. Milne and Alex. Henderson, Assistants