Legal Definitions - Parliament House

Parliament House refers to a historic and architecturally significant building located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It serves as the central hub for Scotland's supreme courts: the Court of Session, which is the highest civil court, and the High Court of Justiciary, which is the highest criminal court. Beyond housing these critical judicial bodies and their administrative support offices, Parliament House also contains the extensive library of the Faculty of Advocates, an organization representing Scotland's independent barristers.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of this term:

• Imagine a situation where two large Scottish corporations are embroiled in a complex dispute over a multi-million-pound contract. After initial proceedings in a lower court, one party decides to appeal the decision to the highest civil court in Scotland.

  This final appeal would be heard by the Court of Session, which is situated within Parliament House. This illustrates its function as the ultimate venue for resolving significant civil legal matters in Scotland.

• Consider a high-profile criminal trial involving serious charges, such as murder or a major financial fraud, against an individual in Scotland.

  The proceedings for such a grave offense would take place before the High Court of Justiciary, which convenes its trials and appeals within Parliament House. This demonstrates its role as the primary location for Scotland's supreme criminal justice system.

• Picture a Scottish advocate (a type of barrister) preparing for a challenging case that requires in-depth research into historical legal precedents and obscure statutes.

  This advocate would likely spend considerable time consulting the vast collection of legal texts and resources available in the library of the Faculty of Advocates, which is an integral part of Parliament House. This highlights its importance as a central resource and operational base for legal professionals in Scotland.