NEWS
Read our latest news including judicial speeches, consultations and consultation responses.
Published speeches reflect the individual judicial office holder's personal views, unless otherwise stated.
Preliminary Hearings Bench Book updated
Dec 8, 2022
Practitioners may wish to note that the Preliminary Hearings Bench Book has been updated as of 8 December. The latest update encompasses changes made in light of the justice provisions in the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022.
Plaque marks historic slavery case at Court of Session
Dec 6, 2022
A historic legal case which found that slavery was “not recognised” in Scots law has been commemorated in a plaque installed at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Scottish Civil Justice Council seeks new members
Nov 24, 2022
The Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) is seeking new members.
Sixteen new King's Counsel appointed
Oct 6, 2022
Sixteen new King’s Counsel have been appointed by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Opening of the Legal Year 2022
Sep 26, 2022
The Lord President, Lord Carloway, introduced the opening of the legal year today in the first full bench ceremony since the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Scottish Tribunals Annual Report 2021-22 published
Sep 23, 2022
The Lord President has today published the President of Scottish Tribunals’ fifth Annual Report.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Sep 8, 2022
The Lord President, Lord Carloway, has paid his respect to the Queen,
New sheriffs appointed
Sep 2, 2022
Her Majesty the Queen has appointed eleven new sheriffs to serve the sheriffdoms of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, Grampian, Highland and Islands, North Strathclyde, South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, and Tayside, Central and Fife.
New Deputy Director now in post at Judicial Institute
Sep 1, 2022
Sheriff Adrian Cottam takes up post as Deputy Director of the Judicial Institute for Scotland from today (1 September).
Event to explain the role of Sheriff Principal
Jul 25, 2022
An event explaining the role of a Sheriff Principal is set to take place next month.
Guidance on proceedings in the Sheriff Court
Jul 20, 2022
The Sheriffs Principal have issued new guidance for court users on proceedings in the Sheriff Courts. The guidance will supersede and replace the guidance which was issued by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service on 25 April 2022.
New guidance on child welfare hearings in the Sheriff Courts
Jul 13, 2022
Child welfare hearings should call in person in Sheriff Courts, according to new guidance produced by the Sheriffs Principal.
New temporary judges appointed
Jul 12, 2022
To assist with jury trials in the High Court, the following sheriffs have been appointed by the Scottish Ministers to act as temporary judges from 1 August 2022:
Joint guidance on Sheriff Court practice produced to achieve greater consistency in courts
Jul 11, 2022
The Sheriffs Principal have for the first time produced joint guidance on sheriff court practice to achieve greater consistency in courts across the country.
Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle: We have to seize the opportunities of a new, post-pandemic world
Jul 6, 2022
Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle has offered his thoughts on the future of the justice system in a new era of technology following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Significant changes to the Jury Manual
Jul 4, 2022
Practitioners may wish to note that the Amalgamated Briefing Paper on Restarting Solemn Trials, which provided a large volume of information on remote jury centres as well as setting out the new written directions and other information relevant to trials proceeding during COVID-19 has been removed from the Judiciary of Scotland website today.
Deputy Director of the Judicial Institute
Jun 27, 2022
The Lord President has appointed Sheriff Adrian Cottam as the next Deputy Director of the Judicial Institute for Scotland. Sheriff Cottam will take up the post on 1 September 2022 for a period of three years
New sheriffs appointed to the Sheriff Appeal Court
Jun 16, 2022
Six new sheriffs have been appointed to the Sheriff Appeal Court (SAC).