The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has published today the latest monthly workbook to show the throughput of criminal cases in our courts.

Monthly Workbook

This shows the volumes of cases being progressed each month in the High Court, Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts from April 2020, compared against the monthly averages for 2019/20 (pre-COVID).

The figures show that during February 2024:

• The overall level of new cases registered is 90% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The overall level of cases concluded is 101% of the average pre-COVID level.
• Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 14% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.

High Court

• 56 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 135% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 84 High Court cases were concluded, which is 125% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 49 weeks for High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.

Sheriff Solemn

• 115 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 122% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 676 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 139% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 40 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID level of 11 weeks.

Sheriff Summary

• 605 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 105% of the average pre-COVID levels
• 5880 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 114% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 40 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.

Justice of the Peace

• 1,920 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 70% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 31 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.