New Register House in Edinburgh, home of the Lyon Court

The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Scots law is a unique legal system with an ancient basis in Roman law. The civil, criminal and heraldic Courts of Scotland are responsible for the administration of Justice. The Justice and Communities Directorate is a Directorate within the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice, commonly referred to as the Justice Secretary, is a Cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland is Public body responsible for making recommendations on appointments to judicial offices in Scotland. The Scottish Court Service is an executive agency of the Scottish Government responsible for the administration the of the Court system in Scotland The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG in Scotland, is a public body based in Falkirk as part of the Scottish Court Service, established The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC is a non-departmental public body in Scotland, established by the Criminal Procedure (Scotland Act 1995 The Scottish Prison Service (SPS ( Scottish Gaelic: Seirbheisean nam prìosan Albanach) an executive agency of the Scottish Government tasked The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom, established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 The House of Lords, in addition to having a legislative function has a judicial function as a Court of last resort within the United Kingdom. The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland. It is both a Court of first instance and a court of Appeal and sits exclusively The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland and presiding Judge (and Senator of the College of Justice and Court of Session The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior Judge in Scotland behind the Lord President of the Court of Session. The Senators of the College of Justice, also known as the Lords of Council and Session and as the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, are the judges of the Court The Office of the Accountant of Court is a constituent body of the Supreme Courts of Scotland. Sheriff courts provide the local Court service in Scotland, with each court serving a sheriff court district within a Sheriffdom. SHERIFF is a telecom fraud detection and management system originally developed by BT and MCI. The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland. The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland and presiding Judge (and Senator of the College of Justice and Court of Session The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior Judge in Scotland behind the Lord President of the Court of Session. The Senators of the College of Justice, also known as the Lords of Council and Session and as the Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, are the judges of the Court Sheriff courts provide the local Court service in Scotland, with each court serving a sheriff court district within a Sheriffdom. The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office SHERIFF is a telecom fraud detection and management system originally developed by BT and MCI. A District Court is the lowest level of court in Scotland. It deals mainly with minor offences and they operate under summary procedure. A Justice of the Peace ( JP) is a Puisne Judicial officer appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA is a Scottish Government executive non-departmental public body with responsibility for protecting Children A Children’s Hearing is part of the legal and welfare systems in Scotland; it aims to combine justice and welfare for children and young people The Scottish Land Court is based in Edinburgh and deals with disputes relating to Agricultural Tenancies between Landlords and tenants The Lands Tribunal for Scotland is a civil Court established in 1971[http //www Her Majesty's Advocate (or when the monarch is male His Majesty's Advocate) known as the Lord Advocate (Morair Tagraidh is the chief legal officer of the Scottish The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Oifis a' Chrùin agus Seirbheis Neach-casaid a' Chrùin provides an independent public prosecution service, investigates The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Oifis a' Chrùin agus Seirbheis Neach-casaid a' Chrùin provides an independent public prosecution service, investigates A procurator fiscal is the Public prosecutor in Scotland, also carrying out functions broadly equivalent to the Coroner in other Legal systems The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of Lawyers who have been admitted to practise as Advocates before the Courts of Scotland, especially the An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another person especially in a legal context The Law Society of Scotland is the Professional governing body for Scottish Solicitors based in Edinburgh. Solicitor Advocate is the title used by a Solicitor who is qualified to represent clients as an Advocate in the higher courts in England and Wales or in A "solicitor" is a term used in many Common law jurisdictions for a lawyer who offers legal services outside of the courts A court is a forum used by a power base to adjudicate disputes and dispense civil, labour administrative and criminal Justice under its Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of genealogies. The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating Heraldry and granting new Armorial bearings for England, Wales England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland was established by Act of the Scottish Parliament in 1672.

The Lyon Court is a public body, and the fees for grants of arms are paid to the Treasury. The acronyms Qango and Quango, variously spelt out as QUAsi Non-Governmental Organization, QUasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organization, and For the US government securities see Treasury security. Also see Treasury management. It is headed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who must be legally qualified, as he has criminal jurisdiction in heraldic matters, and the court is fully integrated into the Scottish legal system, including having a dedicated prosecutor, known in Scotland as a Procurator Fiscal. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility A procurator fiscal is the Public prosecutor in Scotland, also carrying out functions broadly equivalent to the Coroner in other Legal systems This contrasts with England, where the College of Arms is a private body, and the Court of Chivalry, which is a civil court, has met only once in 230 years, in 1954 . The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating Heraldry and granting new Armorial bearings for England, Wales Her Majesty's High Court of Chivalry of England and Wales is a Civil court in England.

Leadership and administration

The head of the Lyon Court is Lord Lyon King of Arms. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility Only two of the heralds work full time, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records, a post currently held by Elizabeth Roads, Carrick Pursuivant. Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records is an heraldic office in Scotland. Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish Pursuivant of arms in ordinary The holders of these two positions are paid a salary as public officials. Up to six officers of arms in ordinary, heralds and pursuivants, assist these two officers, mostly in matters of state ceremonial. A herald, or more correctly a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between Pursuivant and King of arms. A Pursuivant, or more correctly a pursuivant of arms is a junior officer of arms.

As of February 2008 Officers of Arms in Scotland are:

• Lord Lyon King of Arms: David Sellar
• Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary: John Alexander Spens
• Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary: Charles John Burnett
• Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary: Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw
• Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary:title not in use at present
• Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary:title not in use at present
• Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary:title not in use at presentt
• Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary:title not in use at present
• Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Elizabeth Ann Roads
• Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: Alastair Lorne Campbell of Airds
• Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: title not in use at present
• Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: title not in use at present
• Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary: title not in use at present
• Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary: title not in use at present
• Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary: Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight
• Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary: title not in use at present
• March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary: title not in use at present
• Herald Painter: Yvonne Holton
• Herald Painter: Romilly Squire
• Procurator Fiscal to Lyon court: George Way of Plean

From time to time, others can be appointed temporarily or as a recognition of their work. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility William David Hamilton Sellar (born 1940 is a Scottish solicitor and Officer of arms. Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms in ordinary. Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms in ordinary. Charles John Burnett is a native of Fraserburgh Aberdeenshire Rothesay Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish herald of arms. Sir Crispin Hamlyn Agnew of Lochnaw 11th Baronet QC (Born 13 May 1944) is an Advocate, officer of arms former Explorer Islay Herald of Arms in Ordinary was a Scottish officer of arms prior to 1867. Marchmont Herald of Arms in Ordinary is a Scottish officer of arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Snowdoun Herald of Arms in Ordinary was a Scottish Officer of arms prior to 1867. Bute Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms in ordinary. Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish Pursuivant of arms in ordinary Elizabeth Ann Roads, MVO (born 1951 is Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary and Lyon Clerk and Keeper Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms. Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scottish officer of arms. Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is the title of a Scottish officer of arms. Ormond Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary (also spelt Ormonde is the title of a Scottish officer of arms. Linlithgow Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. Sir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight KCVO, WS, FSA Scot. (b Falkland Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is the name of a former Scottish officer of arms extraordinary at the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms. March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary is a former Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. A procurator fiscal is the Public prosecutor in Scotland, also carrying out functions broadly equivalent to the Coroner in other Legal systems George Way of Plean is the Procurator Fiscal of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland. These are styled Herald or Pursuivant Extraordinary. In this way the previous Lord Lyon, Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight, serves as Orkney Herald Extraordinary. Sir Malcolm Rognvald Innes of Edingight KCVO, WS, FSA Scot. (b Orkney Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a current Scottish officer of arms extraordinary. Administrative support to the Lyon Court is provided by the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records. Prosecutions for violations of heraldry are carried out by a Procurator Fiscal attached to the Lyon Court.

In Scotland there are also four private pursuivants that are independent of Lyon Court. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. These officers are employed by Scottish nobles and chiefs and perform duties relating to genealogical, heraldic, and ceremonial matters of clan members. Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime A traditional tribal chief is the leader of a Tribe, or the head of a tribal form of self-government For more information see Private Officer of Arms. A private officer of arms is one of those Heralds and Pursuivants appointed by great noble houses to handle all heraldic and genealogical

References

See also

• Bureau of Heraldry (South Africa)
• Canadian Heraldic Authority
• College of Arms (London)
• Flemish Heraldic Council
• Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland

External links

• The Court of the Lord Lyon
• The Heraldry Society of Scotland