Courts to bring in online processing with simple procedure

Online processing of cases before the Scottish courts is to be introduced with the new simple procedure in the sheriff courts, the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service announced today.

The system is about to go into live testing in courts, with feedback contributing to the wider rollout in October, when the simple procedure will replace the present small claim and summary cause procedures. Most actions for payment will be brought into the system at that point, with other actions covered by simple procedure following by mid-2017.

Simple procedure will apply to claims with a value up to £5,000.

The development of an integrated case management system (ICMS) for the courts was heralded by the Lord President, Lord Carloway, when he addressed the Council of the Law Society of Scotland in January this year.

Eric McQueen, chief executive of the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, commented: “With the introduction of the new simple procedure we will make online processing available for most payment actions up to £5,000. This includes an online portal to enable the legal profession and the public to commence actions, submit case documents, pay fees and track progress online. We will extend this to all areas of simple procedure by mid-2017, allowing over 60% of all civil business in the sheriff courts to be processed online.”

The Simple Procedure Rules will be published shortly by the Scottish Civil Justice Council.

Those interested in receiving updates on ICMS development are invited to email enquiries@scotcourts.gov.uk