Traditionally the Bail Court sat in Edinburgh, originally in the High Court and more recently in the Sheriff Appeal Court, in order to deal with appeals against the grant or refusal of bail. Typically that has meant it is Edinburgh-based appeal sheriffs who have conducted the bail appeal court.

Using the WebEx virtual courts technology it is now possible to wider the field of appeal sheriffs. This will be essential as the court now sits five days a week.

Sheriff Principal Stephen, President of the Sheriff Appeal Court, said: “I am very pleased to announce the inaugural sitting of the SAC Bail Appeal Court as a virtual court on Monday 17 August.

“The bail court’s successful transition to a fully virtual court from its traditional origins as a court sitting in private to hear appeals against the grant or refusal of bail is as a result of a remarkably constructive project which involved collaboration between Appeal Sheriffs and Justiciary Office with excellent technical support and training by the Digital Services Unit.

“I am particularly grateful to Justiciary staff for their tireless effort in rising to this challenge; Nick Reilly of DSU for leading and making it work on the IT front and also to Appeal Sheriffs McFadyen and Cubie for their contribution in driving this forward and providing support to judicial colleagues.”