This page is under development. Please email judicialcomms@scotcourts.gov.uk to suggest words to be added to the glossary.

 

R

Recall

Offenders released from prison into the community on licence can be recalled (brought back) to prison. For example, because they committed another crime, or otherwise breached the terms of their licence.  

Receiver A person appointed to enforce the rights and remedies of the holders of a floating charge over the assets of a company which is in default in relation to the claim or debt which the charge secures.

Record (The accent is on the second syllable.) The pleadings, that is the averments or statements, of the respective claims and answers by parties ion civil proceedings lodged in court. When finally adjusted between the parties it is closed by order of the court and becomes the Closed Record; up to then it is an "open" record.

 

Reclaiming motion

An application for review by the Inner House of the Court of Session of a decision of a judge at first instance. Such appeals are normally heard on the Summar Roll

 

Recovery of documents Where documents are sought to be used to prove a case and are in the possession of another party in the case or some person who is not a party, they may be sought to be recovered by that other person on application to the court. The person who is said to be in possession of the document is called a "haver". A motion for recovery of documents must be accompanied by a document called a specification of documents which sets out the documents or categories of documents sought to be recovered. See also Specification of documents.

Reduction To annul or set aside a decision or document by legal process.

Register of Inhibitions and Adjudications (Now just called the Register of Inhibitions, adjudiciations having been abolished.) The Register of Notices of personal diligence which affect the voluntary conveyance of real property.

Register of Sasines The Register of deeds constituting or transferring rights in land and heritable property. See also Land Register.

Rehabilitation

This can be helping people to change their offending behaviour and live productive lives in society. This could be training in life skills within prison or in the community.

Relict A formal term used to refer to a widow or widower in relation to succession to a deceased's estate. .

Remit The transfer of some matter by one judge to another judge or court; or to a person named as, e.g. to an expert "a man of skill", in order that the latter may inquire and report.

 

Remitted Sentence

 

A sentence is remitted when a sheriff sends a case to the High Court so that a more severe sentence can be given than the maximum allowed at the sheriff court level.

Re-offending

Re-offending is when a person who has committed an offence (or offences) already, commits another offence.