Lord Carloway has announced a ‘cautious and incremental easing’ of current criminal court restrictions, starting from 19 th April. Summary cases in the Sheriff Court will restart again, restricted to three trials per day with two backups. He also announced that Justice of the Peace Courts will restart all business from 7 th June.
Criminal jury trials at both High Court and Sheriff Court levels will continue and all new cases, intermediate diets and custody cases will continue as normal. Remote and virtual hearings will continue to be held at criminal and civil appeals, as well as at the Bail Appeal court and at the Office of the Public Guardian. Most ordinary civil business at the Court of Session and the ASPIC will continue to be held remotely.