The Charter

The Charter is intended for all who use the services of a court, for whatever reason. For example, you might be:

  • a party in a civil case
  • a juror
  • a victim of crime
  • a witness giving evidence
  • an accused person in a criminal case
  • a member of public observing proceedings
  • a solicitor

If you are coming to court you may be worried about what to expect. We want to reduce any anxiety by setting out in this Charter the quality of service that you can expect from us.

The Charter also suggests ways in which you can help us help you and tells you what you can do if things go wrong.

We are committed to achieving the standards set out in this Charter. We set these standards after talking to people who have used the courts. We want to raise these standards:

  • through regular review
  • consulting those who use the courts
  • by working in partnership with other agencies in the Scottish justice system

Our service will be fair, regardless of your race, ethnic origin, age, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or any disability. All court users will be treated in the same professional manner.

Judicial Decisions

The main job of the courts is to resolve disputes and try criminal cases. Independent judges are essential to ensure fairness.

That independence and the decisions made by judges and sheriffs are not affected by this Charter, which deals only with the administration of the courts. This is why we cannot look into claims that judicial decisions were wrong or unfair, or that someone did not handle your case properly.

You may have the right to appeal against the decision if you are unhappy with the outcome of your case. If you want to do this, you should get legal advice immediately.