The consultation is gathering opinions from the public, as well as the legal sector, third sector, and those with direct experience of the justice system.

It is also considering jury size, the majority required for conviction and the requirement for corroboration.

The Scottish government commissioned independent mock jury research – published in 2019 – which highlighted inconsistent views on the meaning and effect of the ‘not proven’ verdict and how it differs from not guilty.

When the consultation launched, Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: “It is vital that Scotland’s justice system is fair, transparent and meets the needs of modern society.  

“The Scottish government recognises there are strong opinions surrounding the three verdict legal system – but that does not mean we should shy away from a detailed and extensive consultation on this unique aspect of our justice system.

“We will take an open and consultative approach to these complex matters and - as part of this consultation - seek to capture the views of a broad range of stakeholders including legal professionals, the third sector and those with lived experience of the system.”