Bench resource on remote jury trials published for all

The Judicial Institute for Scotland has published a new resource to support judges conducting jury trials using remote centres, which it says may also be useful for practitioners.

The Amalgamated Briefing Paper on Restarting Solemn Trials replaces the Information for Practitioners resource published on 11 July. It is aimed at supporting judges, including sheriffs, in conducting jury trials using: 

• the remote jury centre (RJC) model which has been adopted for High Court trials since September and is to be rolled out across the country for sheriff and jury trials between now and spring 2021; and
• the new written directions process.

While the resource is aimed at the judiciary, practitioners who appear in the sheriff courts and the High Court "may also find it useful".

In the new paper unnecessary historical material has been stripped out and the content revised to take account of developing procedures and practices, including the new jury centre model and the restarting of jury trials in the sheriff courts.

Practitioners can access the briefing paper on the Judicial Institute publications page.

Further revision is likely over time.