This page is under development. Please email judicialcomms@scotcourts.gov.uk to suggest words to be added to the glossary.

 

P

 

Plea in mitigation

In court, the accused, or their lawyer, can address the judge with a plea in mitigation. This brings to the judge's attention any mitigating factors that are likely to make a sentence less severe. To learn more about examples of mitigating factors, visit the Scottish Sentencing Council website.

 

Precedent

The decision of a court regarded as a source of law or authority in the decision of a later case.