Legal Definitions - Books of Adjournal

Books of Adjournal

In Scots law, the Books of Adjournal refer to the official, permanent records maintained by the High Court of Justiciary, which is Scotland's supreme criminal court. These records document all the proceedings, judgments, evidence, and other critical information from criminal trials and appeals heard by this court. They serve as the authoritative historical account of the court's activities and decisions.

• Imagine a historian researching a notorious criminal trial that took place in Scotland in the early 20th century. To understand the full details of the case, including the evidence presented, the arguments made by the prosecution and defense, and the final verdict and sentence, the historian would consult the Books of Adjournal. These official records would provide an accurate, comprehensive account of the entire judicial process.

• Consider a contemporary Scottish lawyer preparing an appeal for a client convicted of a serious crime. To build their case, the lawyer needs to meticulously review the original trial's proceedings, including witness testimonies, legal arguments, and the judge's instructions to the jury. All this crucial information would be formally documented within the Books of Adjournal, allowing the lawyer to identify potential errors or grounds for appeal.

• Suppose a legal scholar is studying the evolution of sentencing practices in Scotland for a particular type of offense over several decades. To gather reliable data on how the High Court of Justiciary has imposed sentences in similar cases, the scholar would systematically examine entries in the Books of Adjournal. These records would provide the official details of judgments and sentences, enabling the scholar to track trends and changes in judicial decisions.