Trials backlog reduces in February as more cases start

Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service has a reported a further reduction in the number of cases awaiting trial, as it released its latest monthly workbook showing cases completed during February 2023.

During the month, the overall level of new cases registered was 78% of the average pre-Covid level, and the overall level of cases concluded was 95% of that average. Petitions, which provide a useful indicator of future solemn business, were however 34% higher.

Also during February:

• 53 High Court evidence led trials commenced, 128% of the average pre-Covid level (the same as in January), and 66 High Court cases concluded, 98% of the pre-Covid average (January: 57);
• the average time between High Court pleading diet and trial was 53 weeks, compared to the pre-Covid level of 22 weeks (January: 54 weeks);
• 103 sheriff solemn evidence led trials commenced, 109% of the average pre-Covid level (January: 82), and 483 sheriff solemn cases concluded, 112% of the pre-Covid average (January: 396);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 44 weeks for sheriff solemn, compared to the pre-Covid 11 weeks (January: 41 weeks);
• 592 sheriff summary evidence led trials commenced, 102% of the average pre-Covid level (January: 560), and 5,218 sheriff summary cases were concluded, 109% of the pre-Covid average (January: 5,335);
• the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 44 weeks for sheriff summary, compared to 23 weeks pre-Covid (January: 46 weeks);
• 1,629 justice of the peace cases were concluded, 64% of the average pre-COVID level (January: 1,628), and the average time between pleading diet and evidence led trial was 46 weeks, compared to 22 weeks pre-COVID (January: 50 weeks).

David Fraser, SCTS executive director, Court Operations commented: "The overall number of scheduled trials has now reduced by 36% since the peak of 43,606 in January 2022, representing a 66% reduction in the trials backlog that accrued during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Through the court recovery programme we are aiming to return to a point where the number of scheduled cases being prepared for trial is around 20,000. Given the initial focus on summary trials we remain confident that summary backlog will be cleared by March 2024."

Court resources are being switched from summary to solemn, in which the backlog is not expected to clear until March 2025 for High Court cases and March 2026 for sheriff solemn.

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