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

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 September 2023:

• The overall level of new cases registered is 89% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The overall level of cases concluded is 87% of the average pre-COVID level.
• Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, are 4% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level.
• 57 High Court evidence led trials commenced which is 137% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 83 High Court cases were concluded, which is 124% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 48 weeks for High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.
• 116 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced which is 123% of the average pre-COVID level.
• 663 sheriff solemn cases were concluded which is 136% 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.
• 430 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, which is 74% of the average pre-COVID levels
• 4,990 sheriff summary cases were concluded which is 97% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 38 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID level of 23 weeks.
• 1,606 Justice of the Peace cases were concluded which is 58% of the average pre-COVID level.
• The average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial is 40 weeks for Justice of the Peace, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks.

David Fraser, SCTS Executive Director Court Operations said:

“Given the significant reduction in summary trials backlog we switched court recovery resources from Summary to Solemn, with the introduction of a further 2 additional High Court and 6 additional Sheriff Solemn trial courts.  Solemn cases, which involve the most serious crimes, are more challenging as the long term trend of increasing case levels continued throughout the pandemic. The report published today shows that throughput for solemn business remains high.

“Since Feb 2023, the Sheriff Courts have continued to receive a higher demand for summary trials than was modelled.  This has slowed progress on the level of outstanding summary trials and we are reviewing options to address this should the higher demand for summary trials continue in future months.

 “Strong collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector is helping to effectively manage court business, this remains important now that the solemn recovery programme has been extended.”