Bill-chamber is a department of the Court of Session in Scotland which deals with summary business—so called because formerly both summonses and diligence or execution were for the most part commenced by a writ called a bill. These bills went to the whole court, but the necessity for them has been in most cases abolished by the reforming legislation of the 19th century. Since 1813 the bill-chamber is presided over by a single judge called the Lord Ordinary on the bills, and during the sittings of the Court of Session, the duty is taken by the junior or last appointed judge of the court; but in vacation-time, the business of the Bill-chamber is performed by a rotation of judges.
The business of the Bill-chamber consists of all matters of a summary nature; and generally all cases requiring the immediate interposition of judicial authority for arrestment of funds or inhibition of heritable property, for stay or suspension of diligence or execution. Applications for interdict or injunction, and for certain warrants necessary for the execution of process, are there at once made. Appeals from the inferior courts are now carried straight to the Court of Session; and the ordinary execution of decrees works automatically. The decision of the judge in the Bill-chamber may, with some exceptions, be brought under review of the Court of Session, and the judgment of the court itself may be appealed to the House of Lords. The proper jurisdiction of the Bill-chamber has been largely supplemented by statute. Thus, under all the bankruptcy statutes, sequestration may be obtained either in the Bill-chamber or in the local sheriff court; and on several important points in sequestration there is an appeal from the sheriff to the Bill-chamber. Again in vacation, the Bill-chamber exercises many of the powers of the Court of Session—e.g. in petitions for interim appointment of public officers, petitions under the Entail, Lands, Houses, and Pupil Protection Acts, &c. The Bill-chamber is open every lawful day from 10 to 4, and the papers lodged are twice in the day laid before the judge. See COURT OF SESSION, INTERDICT, CAVEAT.