The Council's second newsletter, Update, is now available.

The Council has launched a Twitter account, @ScottishCJC, to keep followers up to date on its activities, events, consultations and new rules.

The Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (Miscellaneous) 2016 comes into force on 21st March 2016.

These two Acts of Sederunt amend fees for sheriff officers and messengers at arms. The new tables will come into effect on 1 April this year.

The consultation period on the draft rules of court for simple procedure is open until 2 March 2016. Simple procedure replaces the small claims and summary cause procedures in the sheriff court.

The Council has launched a new accessible newsletter, Update, with information about its ongoing work.

The Council’s Winter Tour has now finished with nearly 80 people attending sessions held at the sheriff courts in Aberdeen, Inverness and Glasgow.

This Act of Sederunt amends the Ordinary Cause Rules 1993 in implementation of the Section 16 Enterprise Act 2002 Regulations 2015 and amends the Act of Sederunt (Child Care and Maintenance Rules) 1997 in consequence of the coming into force of section 44A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Secure Accommodation (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2015. It comes into force on 1 February 2016.

The Right Honourable Lord Carloway has been appointed as the new Lord President of the Court of Session and will automatically become Chair of the Council once installed early in the new year.

A package of new court rules drafted by the Council will come into force on 01 January 2016, when the Sheriff Appeal Court takes up its civil jurisdiction and competence.