Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
IRRELEVANT, adj. Sc. Law. Of a legal claim or charge: not relevant, not sufficient or pertinent in law to warrant the decree asked for. Hence irrelevancy.Sc. 1754 Erskine Principles iv. iv. § 56:
If the facts libelled be found irrelevant, the pannel is dismissed from the bar.Sc. 1890 Ib. iv. ii. § 1. A.:
The evidence tendered must be relevant to the question at issue. . . . Irrelevancy excludes evidence which has no bearing on that question or too remote a bearing.Sc. 1935 Session Cases (Justiciary) 47:
Argued for the panel; the indictment was irrelevant [for lack of specification].
