Rights of appeal for Advocate General: devolution issues.

1 This section applies where— a a person is acquitted or convicted of a charge (whether on indictment or in summary proceedings), and b the Advocate General for Scotland was a party to the proceedings in pursuance of paragraph 6 of Schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998 (devolution issues). 2 The Advocate General for Scotland may refer any devolution issue which has arisen in the proceedings to the High Court for their opinion; and the Clerk of Justiciary shall send to the person acquitted or convicted and to any solicitor who acted for that person at the trial, a copy of the reference and intimation of the date fixed by the Court for a hearing. 3 The person may, not later than seven days before the date so fixed, intimate in writing to the Clerk of Justiciary and to the Advocate General for Scotland either— a that he elects to appear personally at the hearing, or b that he elects to be represented by counsel at the hearing, but, except by leave of the Court on cause shown, and without prejudice to his right to attend, he shall not appear or be represented at the hearing other than by and in conformity with an election under this subsection. 4 Where there is no intimation under subsection (3)(b), the High Court shall appoint counsel to act at the hearing as amicus curiae. 5 The costs of representation elected under subsection (3)(b) or of an appointment under subsection (4) shall, after being taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session, be paid by the Advocate General for Scotland out of money provided by Parliament. 6 The opinion on the point referred under subsection (2) shall not affect the acquittal or (as the case may be) conviction in the trial.