The Scottish Court Service, the Government Agency responsible to Scottish Ministers charged with administering the court system, has been reorganised under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 to become an independent body, governed by a Corporate Board and chaired by the Lord President, Lord Hamilton.

"The changes taking place today - the creation of a Scottish Court Service under the direction of an independent Board and the creation of a unified judiciary - are important constitutional changes," said Hamilton.

"The effect will be to place the Scottish Court Service decision-making process closer to those who are directly involved in the delivery of justice. I believe the new arrangements will provide an opportunity for the creation of a better and closer relationship between judicial office holders and staff, working together to deliver to the public the sound and prompt judgments to which it is entitled."

Hamilton is supported by a board of combined appointees from legal and civil service backgrounds, whose details can be accessed here.

 "The members of the Board have among them a wide range of knowledge, skills and experience of working within the courts, in government and in the commercial sector," said Hamilton.

"This breadth of understanding will help us develop the direction of the Scottish Court Service and the delivery of services to all those who have need to use them. It will allow us, over the next few months, to consider and develop the strategic direction for the Service. We face, along with the public sector generally, difficult financial conditions. We must not underestimate the challenges this presents."