The most recent Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service (SCTS) monthly throughput figures show the impact of the current coronavirus lockdown on criminal court business.
Remote jury centres enabled 43 High Court evidence led trials to return to pre-COVID levels, with 43 trials going ahead in January – 30 trials took place in sheriff courts. However, evidence led summary sheriff court trials went ahead at only 30% of the average pre-COVID level as a result of the announcement on 11 January that non-priority and non-custody trials were to be adjourned.
Chief of court operations at SCTS, David Fraser, said:
“Our court buildings continue to operate in accordance with guidance from Public Health Scotland to safeguard our staff, judiciary and court users.
“We announced on 12 February 2021 that non-custody and non-priority summary trials due to call until the end of March will be adjourned and we anticipate that this will increase the summary trial backlog further. Solemn business continues to be prioritised and since the first full month’s criminal programme in September, we can see further progress towards pre-COVID levels.”
You can read more about the figures on the SCTS website here.