Weekly roundup of Scots Law in the headlines including the Supreme Court ruling on cross-examination in sexual assault cases — Monday November 17

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots Law and beyond, including the Supreme Court ruling on cross-examination in sexual assault cases.

Cross-examination in cases of sexual assault

A unanimous decision from the UK Supreme Court could change the way Scottish courts handle certain types of evidence in trials.  

• Use of rape shield laws may risk right to fair trials, Supreme Court warns (Scotsman)
• [£] Scottish courts must allow more questioning of sex victims, says top judge (The Times)
• [£] Supreme Court makes landmark judgment on rape shield laws (The Herald)
• UK Supreme Court ruling to change evidence rules in Scottish sexual offence cases (The Law Society of Scotland)

Technology and law

The impact of technology on society and the legal profession is in the news this week. 

• UK seeking to curb AI child sex abuse imagery with tougher testing (BBC)
• [£] Ministers urged to protect creatives from AI training (The Times)
• [£] The question should be when not if AI will replace judges (The Times)
• EU could water down AI Act amid pressure from Trump and big tech (Guardian)
• [£] Thousands of online grooming crimes recorded in Scotland (The Herald)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

• [£] Scotland's courts risk being 'eroded' by SNP underfunding (The Herald)
• ‘Existential and urgent’: what impact will ICJ climate ruling have on Cop30? (Guardian)
• Police chief says force will always record rapists as men (BBC)
• Why the battle still rages over land ownership in Scotland (BBC)
• Willing states must act to save international legal order, warns top academic (Guardian)
• [£] US law firm McDermott Will & Schulte weighs sector’s first private equity tie-up (Financial Times)
• [£] Leveson brands four-year wait for trials a ‘denial of justice’ (The Times)
• Early release of prisoners will cause victims anxiety, admits minister (BBC)
• [£] Dozens of prisoners set to be released early as part of new scheme (The Herald)
• Minimum age in assisted dying bill raised to 18 (BBC)