Summary Justice Reform

Court Unification.

The Scottish Court Service (SCS) is an Executive Agency that is presently responsible for the speedy and efficient administration of most of Scotland's Courts in accordance with the law. By October 2009, SCS will be responsible for the administration of all courts in Scotland. These will incorporate the Court of Session and the High Court of Judiciary as well as the Offices of the Accountant of Court and the Public Guardian, as well as all Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts.

Since the 1970's Scotland's District Courts have been administered by their Local Authorities and this is something that is changing under the SJR Court Unification Programme. In a significant move the responsibility for the administration of these Court will be transferred over to SCS on a phased basis and District Courts will be disestablished and replaced with Justice of the Peace Courts.

This move has many far reaching implications. For the first time in Scotland there will be a unified court system under a single administration. This will also involve the eventual transfer of around 250 District Court staff to the SCS payroll. Preparatory work for the unification programme has been extensive and carried out in the spirit of partnership supported by a number of roadshows and a publicity programme designed to provide answers to any questions for both the public and staff.

In 2004 SCS set up a court unification programme and put in place a dedicated project team to take the proposals forward. The team has now made significant progress and by the end of this year half of the Sheriffdoms in Scotland will be unified.

Lothian and Borders unified their court administration on the 10th of March 2008 and the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands unified on the 2nd of June 2008. The Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin is due to unify on the 8th of December and has just completed its consultation period.

The programme of court unification has involved detailed discussions with both the staff involved and a number of wide ranging partner agencies to ensure a smooth transition to the new system for everyone involved.

Benefits of a unified Scottish courts system -

  • A single one stop shop for court users: Currently many people find it difficult to differentiate between the responsibilities of District and Sheriff Courts.
  • Clarity in terms of accountability: All courts will be managed by a single agency - SCS.
  • An integrated IT system: This will offer the opportunity for greater efficiency.
  • Improved career opportunities for transferring staff: SCS is a larger court service with excellent and well established staff training programmes and more progression opportunities.
  • Improvement to the quality and fabric of some District Courts: Those buildings transferred to SCS that require any improvements will receive due care and attention.

Glasgow and Strathkelvin
Grampian, Highland and Islands
Lothian and Borders
North Strathclyde
South Strathclyde
Tayside, Central and Fife