Judges' training organisation publishes strategic plan
The Judicial Institute for Scotland, the body responsible for training Scotland's judges at all levels, has published its strategic plan for the first time.
The plan covers the period April 2019-March 2022, and sets out four strategic objectives:
- promoting development in the delivery of justice through learning;
- assuring the viability of Scotland's model for judicial training and education;
- ensuring excellence and relevance in course provision;
- ensuring excellence and relevance in online provision.
Each year the strategic plan will be updated with the Institute's current business plan.
The Institute delivers induction training for new sheriffs and judges, bespoke programmes for appeal judges, and refresher courses, as well as one-day courses on specific topics. It also quality assures JP and tribunal training, most of which is de-centralised for delivery by local JP training committees and chambers respectively.
Chair of the Judicial Institute, Lady Stacey, said: "I was delighted to be appointed chair in 2018. The Institute's purpose is to support justice in Scotland through the provision of the highest standard of judicial training and education. Under my chairmanship, the board has further strengthened its position and I am delighted to publish our strategic plan for the first time.
"My fellow board members, Sheriff Alistair Duff and Sheriff Susan Craig, are appointed to the Institute. The deputy chair, Lord Armstrong, and I are grateful for their work overseeing the execution of the strategic and business plans day to day, and upholding our philosophy that judicial education in Scotland is judge-led."