First jury citations sent out for new-look trials

The first jury citations to be issued since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown have today been sent out in preparation for High Court trials to restart in Edinburgh and Glasgow in July. 

It follows the decision of the working group under Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk, that trials will initially take place in the two cities, using a three-court solution where the jury will use the public gallery in the courtroom, or a two court approach where the jury view proceedings remotely from a separate courtroom.

The citations being issued include a new information pamphlet about the measures put in place by the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service (SCTS) to ensure the safety of all parties – accused, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, staff and judiciary – called “Jury Trials – Your Safety is Our Priority”. 

It sets out what court users can expect from the court, and what will be expected in turn of them, with a separate section applying to jurors.

Trials will be conducted with 15 jurors under the same legal standards and procedures as before the COVID-19 emergency. The process of assembling and balloting jurors and the trial procedure will be carried out with strict physical distancing guidelines and highest hygiene standards adhered to, including access for the jurors and the media, in a way that will ensure effective participation of all participants.

Lady Dorrian commented: “The courts have been working extremely hard to deliver justice in the current coronavirus circumstances. I am satisfied that this work, along with the work undertaken by the Re-starting Jury Trials working group in collaboration with the SCTS and our justice partners, will enable jury trials to take place in a way that ensures the safety and confidence of jurors and all parties, and builds trust in our ability to operate within the strict guidelines set out by Public Health Scotland.”