The judge of the county civil and criminal court. Till recently he was called the Sheriff-Depute. He resides in Edinburgh, and must be in habitual attendance on the Court of Session, but holds frequent courts in his county. He has the power of appointing one or more Sheriff-Substitutes, according to the size of the county. These are constantly resident in the county, and hold daily courts, except in vacation. The procedure resembles that in the Court of Session (see Action) ; in most cases it is commenced before the Sheriff-Substitute, and appeal may be taken to the Sheriff. This is done by filing a note of appeal, when the pleadings and documentary evidence, together with the Sheriff-Substitute's notes of the evidence taken orally before him, and his decree, are transmitted to the Sheriff, who gives his decision after argument, sometimes oral, but generally in writing. Both the Sheriff and Sheriff-Substitute must in the decree state the facts which they find proved, and they add a note containing the reasons for their judgment. The Sheriffs jurisdiction is unlimited in actions respecting personal property, and in many actions affecting real estate, but he cannot try questions affecting title to real property, or recissory or declaratory actions. In actions above L.25 in value an appeal lies to the Court of Session ; under that value there is no appeal. The Sheriff's criminal jurisdiction extends to all crimes, except those for which the punishment is transportation. Besides his proper civil and criminal jurisdiction many administrative duties are imposed on the Sheriff. (See also Small Debt Court.)