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Topics currently featured on the Scottish Courts Web Site

Last updated : 30 June 2009 11:25 AM

3 October 2008 SCS Recommends Single Justice of the Peace Court for Glasgow and Strathkelvin.


Read the press release.
Read the Summary of responses to the written consultation

This Saturday (27 September)

as part of Doors Open Day, you have the opportunity to visit some of Scotland’s Courts. For details of the programmes click on the links below.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Parliament House, Edinburgh
Dunoon Sheriff Court

Saturday 27 September
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
9.30am -4.30pm

Edinburgh Sheriff Court is the largest of the courts within Lothian and Borders and after Glasgow, the second busiest court in Scotland. Opened in 1994, this modern building houses 16 court rooms, a cell area and administrative offices. Guided tours are offered of the building taking in Civil and Criminal courts and a visit to the cell area. A number of presentations will take place throughout the day with a chance to take part in a mock trial. There will also be exhibition stands.
Contact: 0131 225 2525

Parliament House
10.00am-4.00pm
Full programme details
The name Parliament House refers to the collection of buildings associated with the Supreme Courts in Scotland. Parliament Hall features the Great Window, installed in 1868 and consisting of 8,000 pieces of painted and stained glass covering 390 square feet. Visitors, as well as being offered tours of the court rooms and behind the scenes access, will have the opportunity to watch a partial re-enactment of a famous trial. For those who are brave enough, a ghost tour will be available on the day.
Contact: 0131 225 2595

Dunoon Sheriff Court
11.00am-2.00pm
Dunoon Sheriff Court is holding its first ever open doors day. Visitors will be able to see the cells and Court room. In addition staff from Reliance, Strathclyde Police and the Witness service will also be in attendance.
Contact: 01369 704 166

Doors open day events have already been held this year at Inverness, Arbroath, Forfar, Kilmarnock, Ayr and Dunfermline Sheriff Courts:
For further information contact: 0131 221 6824

A three month consultation on proposals for the unification of courts administration in the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife gets underway on Monday 30 June

More information


Solar Panels to power Glasgow Sheriff Court

The roof of Glasgow Sheriff Court is now home to Scotland’s largest single roof solar panel generating system which will deliver 97kWp of electricity in optimum conditions. More information

Unified Courts Administration in Grampian, Highland & Islands

From today (Monday 2 June) the Scottish Court Service is responsible for the administration of the former District Courts, now Justice of the Peace Courts as well as Sheriff Courts in Grampian, Highland & Islands. More information

Consultation on SCS proposals for the future configuration of Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts - 13 May 2008

The Scottish Court Service has launched a three month consultation on its proposals for the future configuration of Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Courts, and the arrangements for delivery of court related services, within the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin.

Responses are invited by 12 August 2008 and should be sent to

Report: Summary Justice Reform: Delivering a Unified Courts Administration - Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin

Media release: Delivering a Unified Courts Administration in Glasgow and Strathkelvin


New Sheriff Appointed

John Beckett QC has been appointed as an all-Scotland floating sheriff based in Glasgow. Mr Beckett will have a commission enabling him to serve where required throughout Scotland’s sheriff courts, but in practice he is expected to sit mostly in the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin.

For more information News release

New Judge Appointed

Stephen Errol Woolman QC has been appointed as a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland. His appointment fills the vacancy in the Court of Session that arose on the Rt Hon Lord Reed’s appointment to the Inner House following the retiral of the Rt Hon Lord Philip.

For more information News release

Work starts on Parliament House

The Scottish Court Service has announced the appointment of Interserve to deliver the first of three phases of a £63 million pound programme to refurbish Parliament House.

Phase 1 work gets underway on Monday 25 February and is expected to complete by October 2009.

For more information News release

Scottish Court Service - Annual Report 2006 - 2007

I am delighted to present the Scottish Court Service’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2006/07. It records a year of achievement where we continued to deliver a high level of service to court users while pressing forward with the implementation of major changes, particularly on corporate governance and the implementation of summary justice reform.

Read the full Report

Consultation on the Review of Fees Charged by the Court of Session, Sheriff Courts, Office of the Public Guardian, Accountant of Court and High Court - 12 February 2008

The Scottish Court Service (SCS) is proposing to increase civil court and Public Guardian fees in order to reduce substantially the amount of public subsidy for these services and to distribute the subsidy more fairly between the Court of Session, Sheriff Courts and Office of the Public Guardian. Their proposals are set out in the attached consultation document published today. Comments are invited by 6 May 2008.

Consultation document
Download copy of the consultation response form

Susan Whiteford,
Head of Corporate Communications
Scottish Court Service
0131 221 6814

Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill

The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill, which has direct consequences for the future status of the Scottish Court Service, was introduced to the Scottish Parliament today (30 January 2008). The Bill includes provisions to:

  • Unify the judiciary under the Lord President who will have responsibilities and powers concerning the disposal of business throughout Scotland's courts, and for the training, welfare, deployment and conduct of the judiciary;
  • Create revised governance arrangements for the Scottish Court Service centred on a non-executive board, chaired by the Lord President and with a judicial majority , operating within a strategic framework agreed with Ministers;
  • Provide a statutory basis for the Judicial Appointments Board;
  • Introduce revised arrangements for the removal of judges and sheriffs;
  • Introduce a scheme to deal with issues of judicial conduct;
  • Arrange for the re-employment of retired sheriffs and strengthen the position of temporary judicial office holders; and
  • Extend the grounds of eligibility for appointment as a judge of the Court of Session

Link to Government news release

Link to Government information about the Billl

For further information contact: Susan Whiteford, Head of Corporate Communications 0131 221 6814

 

 

New Courtroom for Alloa Sheriff Court

Work to refurbish Alloa Sheriff Court and install a second courtroom will now get underway following Clackmannanshire Council's decision to accept the Scottish Court Services (SCS) bid to buy the adjacent Council offices at 47 Drysdale Street, currently occupied by Revenues Services.
more

Way Forward Announced for Court Unification on Grampian, Highland and Islands (GH&I)

Following recent consultation, the Scottish Court Service (SCS) has announced its decision on court unification proposals for Grampian Highland and Islands (GH&I) to deliver efficient and integrated Justice of the Peace (JP) court services for the area.
more

Cockburn Association's annual Open Doors Day event

Parliament House is taking part in the Cockburn Association's annual Open Doors Day event on Saturday the 29th of September this year , after the great success of last year when over 2,000 people visited Parliament House.
more

SCS Go Ahead for Court Unification in Lothian and Borders

The Scottish Court Service has received approval from the Cabinet Secretary Kenny MacAskill for their proposals for court unification in Lothian and Borders.
more

The Conditions and Treatment of Prisoners Under Escort Report

On Thursday 6 September, HM Inspectorate of Prisons published a report on "The Conditions and Treatment of Prisoners Under Escort".
more

West Lothian Civic Centre Goes Ahead

The main contractor for the West Lothian Civic Centre was announced today (Tuesday 12 December) as international construction company Laing O'Rourke. The centre will provide: a new headquarters for West Lothian Council; a Sheriff and District Court complex; and a divisional police headquarters.
more

The Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004

The phased implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 Act has begun. The Act aims to improve conditions for vulnerable witnesses. It is being introduced in stages and is overseen by a steering group within the Scottish Executive which represents the key interest groups.
more

Summary Justice Reform

Plans are in place for reforming and improving the summary criminal justice system, including the decision to proceed with unification of the administration of summary criminal courts. This means that in future the Scottish Court Service will manage the District Courts which are currently run by local authorities.
more