Sheriff officers

• Qualification as an officer of the court

A sheriff officer is an officer of the regional civil court. Scotland is divided into six regions called sheriffdoms, each of which has a sheriff principal responsible for the conduct of the courts.

The six sheriffdoms in Scotland are:

•Glasgow and Strathkelvin;
•Grampian, Highland and Islands;
•Lothian and Borders;
•North Strathclyde;
•South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway;
•Tayside, Central and Fife.

Unlike a messenger-at-arms, a sheriff officer can only operate in the geographical area where they hold a commission.

Qualification as an officer of the court

A person cannot be an officer of court unless:1r3 AoS(MASO) Rules

•they are aged 20 or over and under 70 years; and
•they have trained for three years with a practising officer of court; and
•the officer of court with whom they trained has issued a certificate stating that the training has been completed satisfactorily and within five years before applying for a commission as a sheriff officer; and
•they have passed the relevant examinations; and
•they have attained the educational standard determined by the committee of examiners.

A sheriff officer must retire from practice as an officer of court when they reach age 70.

 

1     r3 AoS(MASO) Rules »