Bill Criminal Verdicts Scotland Bill Purpose of the Bill A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the removal of the not proven verdict as one of the available verdicts in criminal proceedings and for a guilty verdict to require an increased majority of jurors ID: 642690
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A CASE STUDY
Criminal Verdicts (Scotland)
Bill Slide2
Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill
Purpose of the Bill
A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the removal of the not proven verdict as one of the available verdicts in criminal proceedings; and for a guilty verdict to require an increased majority of jurors.Why was the Bill introduced?Mr McMahon said
“I have long been convinced that a three-verdict system is no longer defensible in a modern justice system. It causes confusion and uncertainty for victims of crime and for accused persons. The principle that all accused persons are innocent until proven guilty entitles them to a straightforward acquittal in every case in which the prosecution case cannot be established beyond a reasonable doubt.”Who introduced the bill?This Member’s Bill was introduced by Michael McMahon MSP on 27 November 2013.Slide3
The Draft Proposal
Proposal of a Members Bill
A Member’s Bill
Lodge with Non Government Bills Unit (NGBU)Consultation – no less than 12 weeksThe Final ProposalLodge final proposal with NGBU
18 members from half the parties must support
A Member’s Bill starts with a different process to a Government or Committee Bill
Read the briefing explaining what the bill covers
Click to see the consultation responses
Find out more about Members’ Bills
Bill (as Introduced)
Once the Bill is introduced, it follows the same process as other billsSlide4
Stage Two
Committee scrutinise bill line by line and make amendments
Stage Three
Parliament debate and vote
Stage One
Justice Committee call for evidence
Committee report to Parliament
“
The Committee commends Michael McMahon for bringing this Bill before the Parliament and helping provoke more debate about the not proven verdict…
A
clear majority of the Committee supports the intention of the Bill to abolish the not proven verdict but not the proposal in relation to jury majorities.
…
The
Committee hopes that the research on juries announced by the Scottish Government will proceed soon.
A majority of the Committee is therefore unable to support the general principles of the Bill
.”
Watch the committee meeting
Read the committee report
Read the Committee call for evidence
Stage One Debate
Members vote
on
general principles
Decision Time
For
28,
Against
80, 0
abstentions.
Bill Falls
Status of the Bill
The Bill fell after the general principles of the bill were not agreed to
by the Parliament at its Stage 1 debate on 25 February 2016.
Summary of the Progress of the Bill
Read the written responses