Criminal trial backlog reducing, SCTS claims

Criminal case throughput in the Scottish courts was variable during June compared with pre-pandemic levels, but the overall backlog of trials is reducing, according to the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, which today published its latest monthly workbook showing the number of cases dealt with.

The figures show that the overall level of cases concluded during the month was 104% of the average pre-COVID level, compared with 112% in May and 97% in April. New cases registered were at 91% of the pre-COVID average (May 87%; April 77%), but petitions were 22% higher than average (May 21% higher; April 17%).

As regards particular courts:

• 53 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 128% of the average pre-COVID level (May 56 trials or 135%; April 50 trials or 120%);
• 74 High Court cases were concluded, 110% of the pre-COVID average (May 73 cases or 109%; April 66 cases or 98%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 46 weeks in the High Court, compared to the pre-COVID level of 22 weeks (May 53 weeks; April 49 weeks);
• 73 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, 77% of the pre-COVID average (May 94 trials or 99%; April 75 trials or 79%);
• 488 sheriff solemn cases were concluded, 114% of the pre-COVID average (May 458 cases or 107%; April 475 cases or 111%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 52 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-COVID average of 11 weeks (May 51 weeks; April 41 weeks);
• 495 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 86% of the pre-COVID average (May 589 trials or 102%; April 505 trials or 87%);
• 5,272 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 110% of the pre-COVID average (May 5,865 cases or 123%; April 4,987 cases or 105%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 50 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to the pre-COVID average of 23 weeks (May 50 weeks; April 53 weeks);
• 2,304 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 90% of the pre-COVID average (May 2,356 cases or 92%; April 2,093 or 82%);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 55 weeks for justice of the peace, compared to the pre-COVID average of 22 weeks (May 57 weeks; April 54 weeks).

David Fraser, SCTS executive director, Court Operations commented: "The statistics demonstrate the courts recovery programme is having an impact in reducing the backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial backlog has reduced by nearly 3,000 trials since the end of April [comprising 1,500 trials in each of May and June], with the percentage of trials concluded above pre-COVID levels in the High Court and sheriff courts.

"The collaboration across the judiciary, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector is helping to effectively manage court business, including the ongoing delivery of the recovery programme."

The workbook is available at: www.scotcourts.gov.uk/official-statistics