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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PANEL, n., v. Also pannel(l), pannal(l). Sc. Law usages:

I. n. †1. The place of arraignment in a court of law, the dock, the bar of the court (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Also panel-box, id.Sc. 1707 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 53:
Braco did raise a lybell against Gordon for raising so scandalous lybel against him, and, befor any procedur, he pleaded that Gordon, the persuer, should also enter the pannell.Lnk. 1722 R. Wodrow Sufferings iii. viii. s. 4:
When tried before the Justiciary, . . . he was kept in the Pannel for Ten Hours.Sc. 1732 J. Louthian Form of Process 41:
When the Day of Compearance comes, . . . the Prisoner is sent for . . . and enters the Pannel (after this the Prisoner is called Pannel).Sc. 1768 Scots Mag. (July) 383:
It is remarkable, that this Gordon was not in custody, but appeared in court, and entered the pannel when his name was called.Edb. 1861 J. McLevy Curiosities of Crime 221:
As fine a company as ever met together to enjoy the pleasure of a pannel-box.

2. A prisoner at the bar of the court, an accused person in a criminal action from the time of his appearance in court (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 220, 1825 Jam., 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 62).Sc. 1700 S.C. Misc. (1846) III. 180:
The libel . . . hath ane congestione and heap of years, which the pursuer ought to be more speciall in, that the pannalls may not be precluded from their laufull defens.Sc. 1724 R. Erskine Best Bond 27:
He [Christ] was a condemned Pannel at the Bar in our Room.Sc. 1753 Trial J. Stewart 283:
The Lord Justice General, and Lords Commissioners of justiciary . . . find unanimously, the pannel James Stewart guilty, art and part, of the murder of Colin Campbell of Glenure.Sc. 1795 Scots Mag. (July) 479:
He saw no marks of insanity about the pannel, who always behaved with great propriety.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xii.:
The libel maun be redargued by the pannel proving her defences.s.Sc. 1839 Wilson's Tales of Borders V. 116:
The judge was on the point of pronouncing a sentence of banishment, when the poor pannel fainted.Wgt. 1877 G. Fraser Wigtown 271:
Panel promptly tabled the amount of the fine, and was liberated.Kcd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 149:
No panel fears the judge's face If once the Attorney backs his case.Sc. 1896 Stevenson W. of Hermiston iii.:
Do ye mean to tell me ye was the panel's mistress?Sc. 1904 A. M. Anderson Criminal Law 283:
Even after the jury has been sworn, the Court may, if the panel is not represented by counsel, continue the diet, to give the accused an opportunity of communicating with counsel.Sc. 1935 Session Cases (Justiciary) 47:
Argued for the panel; the indictment was irrelevant [for lack of specification].em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 180:
'I canna mak such a pledge. An advocate canna jist pick and choose, nor can a panel wi nae siller elect his ain coonsel.'
'But,' said Mitchel, 'choice willna be in it on this occasion. When they bring me back - which they will, hae nae doot - nae lawyer in his senses will dare plead on ma behaw - it's an offence in itsel tae argue for a traitor. ... '

3. = children's panel s.v. childer.Gsw. 1985 Michael Elder Stookie 79:
"How long does this Supervision Order last?" she asked.
"I'm up before a [children's] Panel next week. They review the case. Decide whether to go on wi' the Order, or whether I can come off of it, or maybe whether they send me to a detention centre."

†II. v. To bring (an accused person) to trial, to indict, arraign.Sc. 1722 R. Wodrow Sufferings iii. viii. s. 5:
Some Country Women were pannelled for being helpful to the Wife of one of the Persons alledged to have been concerned.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley lxvi.:
He . . . was soon to be panelled for his life.