Legal news
You are currently filtering for: criminal-law

Crucial hearings should still be in-person: UK bars
Joint statement claims remote court hearings impede effective advocacy

Jail term upheld for mother's false tax credit claim
12 months not excessive for 68 month, £55,000 fraud by abused mother of six

March solemn cases increase – along with petitions
SCTS monthly figures show rising levels of criminal business

Films to show impact on children when mothers jailed
Launch event to show show two of series made for Scotland

Sheriff summary courts to resume next Monday
Sheriff summary criminal business restarts 19 April; JP courts 7 June

Complaint withholding details of locus ruled competent
Appeal sheriffs hold online sex offences special circumstances

Scotland-wide criminal bar group launches with flourish
Scottish Solicitors Bar Association gains place at meetings with Government

Megrahi applicant refused permission for UKSC appeal
Court holds no compatibility issue raised to take to Supreme Court

Full bench re-examines aspects of Moorov rule
Rape a separate category to domestic abuse; case overruled on long time gap

Call for specialist sex offences court
Move to improve experience for complainers

Further domestic abuse control powers passed by MSPs
Unanimous support after stage 3 debate for Domestic Abuse (Protection) Bill

Criminal court restrictions to be eased
Move comes as Scotland’s lockdown rules change

February criminal case figures show lockdown effect
Solemn business getting up to speed, but few summary trials held

Ministers consult on miners' strike pardon criteria
Views invited on taking forward Scott review recommendation

Aberdeen domestic abuse trials to go virtual
May start for scheme to reduce pandemic backlog

Hate Crime Bill finally passed by MSPs
Controversy to the end on protection for women and freedom of speech

Brian Plastow chosen as Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
Former superintendent and HMIC inspector nominated for new role

Provision to be made for deaf jurors in England & Wales
Legislation will allow BSL interpreters into jury rooms

More money to support trafficking and stalking victims
Further funding for victim focused charities

Pre-pandemic figures for criminal justice social work out
2019-20 statistics show rise in diversions from prosecution

MSPs call for urgent views on freedom of expression
Justice Committee publishes Yousaf's options for hate crime limits

Sentencing Council publishes death by driving findings
Research into public attitudes shows feeling of expectations not being met

Trafficked cannabis farm youths held wrongly prosecuted
UK found in breach of Human Rights Convention on two counts

Lockdown hits SCTS monthly throughput figures
High Court trials up to pre-COVID level but total case throughput well down