Book: Maher and Rodger on Civil Jurisdiction in the Scottish Courts

Gerry Maher (Edinburgh) and Barry Rodger (Strathclyde) have published Civil Jurisdiction in the Scottish Courts (W. Green, 2010). Here’s the blurb:

The last comprehensive survey of the law on civil jurisdiction in Scotland, by Duncan & Dykes, was published in 1911. Given the major developments in the law since then, the legal market in Scotland has been crying out for an up-to-date account of the subject. It has taken just under a century for such a text to be published! The necessity of a modern title on civil jurisdiction is particularly apparent. Professors Gerry Maher and Barry Rodger have now presented us with this new reference tool which provides comprehensive coverage of all the areas of civil jurisdiction, including family actions, succession, insolvency and diligence.

Written in a highly practical style, the book will be an essential reference instrument for all Scottish civil court practitioners. The issue of jurisdiction is involved every time an action is raised in the Scottish courts. This new book is the first to deal with the practical aspects of jurisdiction for Scottish practitioners. As an in-depth exposition of the law of civil jurisdiction in the Scottish courts, the primary focus of this title is on the jurisdiction of the Court of Session and sheriff courts across Scotland over persons who are parties to court proceedings. This is a wide-ranging text and covers all rules on civil jurisdiction and every type of action, explaining the provisions on jurisdiction to be found in many statutes of the Scottish and UK Parliament, especially the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982. The authors also cover a wide array of EU instruments. The subject matters covered includes civil, commercial, family, obligations, trusts and succession, diligence and insolvency. The significance of EU legal developments is a key feature of the text, with discussion focusing on the impact of EU case law on Scottish cases. It also considers the application of the rules in Scottish courts to parties, issues and events outside of the EU, making it a unique title.

A key practical benefit of this essential reference tool is that it makes clear at which particular sheriff court or courts an action can be raised, avoiding laborious searches or embarrassing errors. All civil litigators in Scotland must know this information and this book makes a time-consuming and complex issue a simple process.

You can find more information, and a table of contents, on the Sweet & Maxwell website. The book is £140. Scottish practitioners and academics alike should delve deeply into their pockets in order to purchase a copy.