Procurator Fiscal - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: procurator fiscalProcurator fiscal
Procurator fiscal. Each of the inferior (Sheriff's) Courts in Scotland has its Procurator Fiscal, who acts, with deputies if necessary, as Public Prosecutor; and to make inquiry in to suspected offences in his area; under guidance of Crown Office Regulations. There are no coroners in Scotland....
Crown Solicitor
Crown Solicitor. In Ireland there were officrs called Crown solicitors attached to each circuit, whose duty it was to get up every case for the Crown in criminal prosecutions. They were paid by salaries. In Scotland the still better plan exists of a Crown prosecutor (called the Procurator-Fiscal, and being a subordinate of the Lord-Advocate) in every county, who prepares every criminal prosecution. As to England, see PUBLIC PROSECUTOR....
Precognition
Precognition, in Scotland, is the 'proof' of a witness committed to writing for use upon his examination. In criminal cases, the preliminary examination of witnesses usually conducted under the superintendence of the procurator fiscal....
Advocate, Lord
Advocate, Lord, the principal Crown Lawyer in Scotland, and one of the great Officers of State of Scotland. It is his duty to act as public prosecutor; but private individuals injured may prosecute upon obtaining his concurrence. He is assisted by a Solicitor-General and four junior counsel, termed advocates-depute. He has the power of appearing as public prosecutor in any Court in Scotland where any person can be tried for an offence, or in any action where the Crown is interested, but it is not usual for him to act in the inferior Courts, which have their respective public prosecutors, called procurators-fiscal, acting under his instructions. He does not, in prosecuting for offences, require the intervention of a grand jury, except in prosecutions for treason, which are conducted according to the English method. Until the creation of the office of Secretary for Scotland the Lord Advocate was virtually Secretary of State for Scotland. Consult Omond's Lord Advocates of Scotland....
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