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Latest News

  • Reducing the Criminal Trials Backlog Mar 19, 2021

    The Criminal Justice Board is developing proposals to recover, renew and transform Scotland’s justice system in the wake of the extensive disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a first step, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has announced plans to commence a court recovery programme from September 2021. Read more ...
  • Improving the Management of Sexual Offence Cases Mar 18, 2021

    A cross-justice Review Group, chaired by the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian, has recommended that a new, national specialist Court with trauma-informed procedures be created to deal with serious sexual offence cases in Scotland. Read more ...
  • Criminal Court Restrictions Set to Ease From 19 April 2021 Mar 17, 2021

    Since the Government’s national lockdown restrictions were implemented in January, criminal courts have focussed on the most serious trials, with the majority of summary trials in the Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court adjourned. Having reviewed the COVID-19 transmission levels and the vaccine roll-out, the Lord President has announced that there can be a cautious and incremental easing of the current criminal court restrictions. Read more ...

As tougher Covid restrictions are introduced in Scotland, The Lord President, Lord Carloway has called for all court and tribunal users to abide by the protective measures already in place against COVID transmission in Scotland’s courts and tribunal buildings. 

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SCTS has been rolling out Webex capability since April and it is now widely used in the Court of Session, Sheriff Appeal Court, Personal Injury Court, Sheriff civil courts proofs, debates, evidential and Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) hearings, and for tribunal hearings, including the Upper Tribunal. 

Read information on accessing virtual hearings and for those participating in, or preparing for, virtual courts or remote attendance in hearings.


Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, jurors participate in court proceedings from separate remote jury centre, which ensures the jury can all physically distance while hearing evidence and taking part in deliberations about the case. Jurors will view the trial proceedings live on screen with most other trial participants attending the courtroom. 

Find out more about participating in a jury trial in Scotland during coronavirus.

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