Aberdeen Sheriff Court Annex and High Court of Justiciary

Coronavirus - COVID19
Please check here for the latest information

---

Hub courts

This is one of the ten ‘Hub’ courts in Scotland dealing with essential business only during Coronavirus.

Essential business is as follows:

1.           New custody cases where a remand is to be sought on public safety grounds, and individuals who have been released on undertakings to appear at a specified court. (Further guidance on this will be issued shortly).
2.           New undertaking cases
3.           Custody Sentencing cases. Where possible the Accused will VC in from Prison.
4.           High Court Preliminary Hearing and Sheriff Court First Diet Courts.  If the accused has been served with an indictment and have either a First Diet or Preliminary Hearing set down then it is likely that these will be postponed administratively. However, all efforts will continue for Crown office to liaise with solicitors to identify issues that require to be resolved and whether the case itself could resolve.
5.           A small number of summary custody trials may take place where witnesses are available and it is possible to continue. Solicitors and witnesses will be contacted proactively by the Crown where this is proposed.
6. Other Criminal and Civil business where there is an urgent need for the court to make a decision.

Please only contact this court if you have essential or emergency business.

You will only be allowed into the court if your presence is required as part of the proceedings. Please stay at home if you are a member of the public.

Notice for court users during Covid-19

Sheriffdom Orders and Guidance 

---

The Sheriff Court Annex (Mercatgate) was originally built in 1801 as a bank to a design by James Burn, and there is evidence that part of the building was used as a printer’s office in the late 19^th century. The Category A listed building now accommodates the High Court and sheriff court jury sittings.

Contact details

Location Address

53 Castle Street
Aberdeen
AB11 5BB

Postal address

Castle Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1WP

Main telephone

01224 657250

Sheriff Clerk / Main contact

Fiona Fleming

DX

AB61

Email

aberdeen@scotcourts.gov.uk

Jury helpline

High Court jury helpline: 08000 121349

Sheriff and Jury helpline: 08000 234009.

These lines give recorded information messages for jurors only

Accessibility contact

If you require the support of an interpreter when you contact a court (by phone or attend in person), a telephone interpretation service is available.  To access this service ask for telephone interpreting and the language required. This service is NOT available during actual court proceedings.

If you use British Sign Language (BSL) and wish to phone us using a sign language interpreter, you can use the online video relay interpreting service. For more information see the contactSCOTLAND website. www.contactscotland-bsl.org

Directions

Please use journey planner for public transportation information.

By bus

Buses from outlying areas stop on Union Street, King Street, Castle Street and at Aberdeen bus station which is located on Guild Street beside the train station.

For more information on timetables please use the Journey Planner or contact First Bus

By rail

Aberdeen train station is located on Guild Street and is approximately 10 minute walk from the courthouse. There are trains in operation south to both Glasgow and Edinburgh and trains north to Inverness.

Information on the times of trains to and from all stations can be obtained at Scotrail or National rail enquiries

By car

There is no public car park at the Court. There is various on-street (metered) car parking, maximum stay 4 hours. The nearest long-stay car park is the NCP at Shiprow, 5 minutes walk from the courthouse. We have arranged for court users who bring their ticket to reception for validation to receive a 25% discount on parking fees at the NCP car park at Shiprow.

By taxi

The main taxi ranks are located at Hadden Street, Back Wynd, Dee Street and Chapel Street.

By air

Aberdeen Airport is in the Dyce area of Aberdeen and is serviced by most major domestic airlines. The airport is approximately a 45 minutes drive in rush-hour traffic from the Court.

On arrival

On arrival at the Mercatgate building please report to our reception desk. If you are coming to court as a juror or witness please have your citation or other paperwork available in order that our reception staff can direct you to the appropriate court or witness room.

Occasionally there are additional security measures carried out, these entail individuals being screened by hand held scanners and baggage checks may also be made.

When you arrive at the Mercatgate you can expect courteous and prompt service from all our members of staff.

If you are involved in a case within the building, you can expect to be directed by a member of our staff to the designated waiting area for the court room where the case is to be held. You can expect to be updated regularly on your case by a member of our staff.

 

Facilities

There are a variety of restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk from the Court. Vending machines for hot and cold drinks and snacks are available in the main reception area for use by all court visitors.

Jurors are provided with refreshments during the day and lunch is also provided for them.

 

Pay a Fine

Pay a fine online or to pay a fine or have a jury expenses form to hand in, then please contact our fines office which is located opposite the civil department on the ground floor of the sheriff court building on Castle Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1WP.

Payment Methods: Cash, Debit Card, Credit Card, Cheque or Postal Order.

(please do not send cash through the post).

Please make cheques and postal orders payable to "Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service"

send by post to:

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G5 9DA

Opening times

Normal opening hours
Mercatgate is open Monday to Friday 09:00 - 16:30

If you arrive at the building on a day that it is closed, please contact Aberdeen Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court across the road for any assistance that you may be requiring.

Jurors should report to the reception desk at the allocated time on their citations.

Please note: juror payments are dealt with in the Fines Office located in the main sheriff court building.

If you are telephoning the court during our opening hours, you can expect your phone call to be answered promptly and politely.

 

Public Holidays

2020

January 1, 2

April 10, 13, 20

May 8

July 13

September 28

November 30

December 25, 28

Complaints

Please refer to the complaints and feedback page.

Useful Links

• Aberdeen Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
• Aberdeen Civil Justice Centre and Commercial Courts
• Procurator Fiscal
• Victim Support Scotland
• Scottish Prison Service
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Scottish Children's Reporter
• Aberdeen City Council
• Police Scotland
• Scottish Sentencing Council
• Judiciary of Scotland
  
  
  

 

Wheelchair users can access the building using the ramp access. A lift is available to access different floor levels and all courts are accessible by wheelchair users. 

If you have any specific access requirements please contact 01224 657250.

A hearing loop system is available in all court rooms for those with hearing difficulties. Please speak to our reception staff or the court officer if you require assistance.

If you have a text phone you can contact the court using Text Relay.

If you require the support of an interpreter when you contact a court, a phone based service is available - ask for Language Line and the language required.