Sheriff court professionals

Criminal hearings - Webex Meetings

1. PF-Defence Agent virtual court guidance
2. Police Witness Guide
3. Victim Support Unit Guide
4. Vulnerable Witnesses
5. Criminal Virtual Certification 

Hearings - Webex Webinars

1. Representative & Party Guidance
2. General Witness Guide
3. Interpreter-translator Guide 

Civil hearings - Webex Meetings 

1. Guidance for Civil Solicitors
2. Party Guide
3. Civil Bulk Court Certification 

Supreme Courts professionals

The following guidance and information is provided to support Court of Session and and High Court of Justiciary users to prepare for, and participate in, virtual court hearings.

Practice notes and legislation

• Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 – Schedule 4
• Practice Note No 1 of 2020 – Substantive Hearings by Video Conference (PDF)

Teleconference guidance

• Cisco Conference Now - teleconference hearings - participant guide (PDF)

Civil and criminal court guidance

• Criminal Preliminary Hearing Guidance – Webex Meetings (PDF)
• Criminal Preliminary Hearing Certification (PDF)
• Cisco Webex test meetings guide (PDF)
• Cisco Webex Meetings – Joining Guide (PDF)
• User guide - Webex Events attendees (PDF)
• User guide - Webex Events panellists (PDF)

Supreme Courts additional resources

• Cisco Webex Meetings - sharing content with participants (video)
• Information for witnesses (PDF)
• Public access to virtual court hearings – guidance

Media

• Access to remote hearings

Public

• Public access to virtual court hearings
• Public access to courts and tribunals during COVID-19

Court participants - witnesses and jurors

• Information for witnesses
• Information for jurors

Virtual Civil hearings

We have produced a short film that shows how a virtual hearing in a civil court works to enable business to take place efficiently and effectively. The virtual court fully supports the functions of a live court environment and the film provides a high-level overview of how this works in practice. Virtual hearings are not used for all cases but are effective for some cases as set out in Guidance for Supreme Court users and for Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court users.