Articles
High Court trials in December 2020 up over previous years
There were more High Court evidence led trials in December 2020 than during the same period in the preceding two years amid severe delays caused by the pandemic, new figures from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) show.
Published 20 January 2021
England: ‘Unprecedented’ courts backlog could have long-term impact
The "unprecedented and very serious" backlog in the criminal courts due to the Covid-19 pandemic poses a serious risk to the criminal justice system, the four justice watchdogs in England and Wales have warned.
Published 20 January 2021
September start for hospital inquiry public hearings
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry will hold the first of its public hearings in September 2021 where it plans to hear from affected patients and families.
Published 20 January 2021
New CPD offering from Scottish Law Agents’ Society
The Scottish Law Agents’ Society has highlighted the problems facing the profession in obtaining CPD following the Law Society of Scotland’s re-imposition of it in full as of the current practice year.
Published 20 January 2021
Revised code of conduct for property factors comes into force in August
Legislation to ensure property factors adhere to a consistent standard has been laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Published 20 January 2021
Van Morrison launches challenge against Covid-19 ban on live music
Lawyers acting for Sir Van Morrison have launched a legal challenge against the blanket ban on live music in licensed premises in Northern Ireland.
Published 20 January 2021
Our Legal Heritage: The Mountain Bard in Court, 1821
Andrew Stevenson reflects on a literary-cum-legal encounter between two of Scotland's greatest writers.
Published 20 January 2021
Benjamin Bestgen: Held to higher standards
Benjamin Bestgen considers the fairness of the high standards to which we hold lawyers. Read last week's jurisprudential primer here.
Published 20 January 2021
And finally… mother of all rioters
A teenager who was rapped for supporting Black Lives Matter protests turned the tables on her mother by turning her in for allegedly trying to storm the Capitol.
Published 20 January 2021
Sheriff Appeal Court remits contact order application by abusive ex-partner for reconsideration
The Civil Division of the Sheriff Appeal Court has allowed an appeal by a mother against the grant of a supervised contact order for her young daughter’s father and remitted the case to a new sheriff for reconsideration.
Published 19 January 2021
Malicious prosecution: Whitehouse and Clark reportedly paid £21m – plus £3m in legal expenses
The administrators of Rangers FC who were maliciously prosecuted have been paid more than £20 million, The National reports.
Published 19 January 2021
Court closures and delays lead to Scotland recording only one high-value fraud case
Scotland has officially recorded only one high-profile fraud case for the entire period of 2020 as Covid-19 continues to pose profound logistical challenges for the country’s justice system.
Published 19 January 2021
Reports of female-perpetrated child sexual abuse rise sharply
Reports of female-perpetrated child sexual abuse rose by 84 per cent between 2015 and 2019, the BBC reports.
Published 19 January 2021
Interview: BBC Scotland legal director Rosalind McInnes on her life in the law
Baktosch Gillan spoke to Rosalind McInnes, BBC Scotland legal director, about her career with the broadcaster and coping with lockdown.
Published 19 January 2021
Martyn Evans named new chair of Scottish Police Authority
Martyn Evans has been appointed chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) board.
Published 19 January 2021
