Legal Definitions - College of Justice

The College of Justice is a unique and historic institution within the Scottish legal system. Established in 1532, it refers to the collective body of judges and legal professionals who together form the Court of Session, which is Scotland's highest civil court. Essentially, it represents the foundational and ongoing structure responsible for administering superior civil justice in Scotland.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a legal historian researching the origins of Scotland's modern judiciary. They would discover that the creation of the College of Justice in 1532 was a landmark event, as it formally brought together the most senior judges and legal practitioners to constitute the Court of Session. This act centralized and formalized the highest level of civil justice in the country, demonstrating the College of Justice as the foundational entity for Scotland's superior civil court.

• When a distinguished Scottish lawyer is appointed as a judge to the Court of Session, they are formally designated as a "Senator of the College of Justice." This appointment signifies their entry into this esteemed body of legal professionals. Their role then involves presiding over complex civil cases within the Court of Session, thereby contributing directly to the administration of justice by the very institution the College of Justice represents.

• Consider a major commercial dispute between two large corporations in Scotland that requires a definitive ruling from the highest civil authority. This case would be heard by the Court of Session, which is staffed by the judges who are members of the College of Justice. This scenario illustrates how the College of Justice, through its members, is the active body that delivers judgments in the most significant civil legal matters in Scotland.