Bail Appeal Court goes virtual

Bail appeal hearings in the Sheriff Appeal Court will be virtual as from this week, following a successful inaugural virtual Bail Appeal Court yesterday.

The court, which deals in private with appeals against the grant or refusal of bail, will now convene daily with the presiding appeal sheriff, clerk of court, prosecutor and defence counsel or solicitors all participating remotely. 

Traditionally the court has sat in Edinburgh, originally in the High Court and more recently in the Sheriff Appeal Court, which meant that almost invariably it was Edinburgh-based appeal sheriffs who presided. Using the WebEx virtual courts technology it is now possible to widen the field of appeal sheriffs, which is essential as the court now sits five days a week. 

Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen QC, President of the Sheriff Appeal Court, commented: "The bail court’s successful transition to a fully virtual court from its traditional origins as a court sitting in private to hear appeals against the grant or refusal of bail is as a result of a remarkably constructive project which involved collaboration between appeal sheriffs and Justiciary Office, with excellent technical support and training by the Digital Services Unit.

"I am particularly grateful to Justiciary staff for their tireless effort in rising to this challenge; Nick Reilly of DSU for leading and making it work on the IT front and also to Appeal Sheriffs McFadyen and Cubie for their contribution in driving this forward and providing support to judicial colleagues."