Campaigners mount last ditch plea for Haddington Sheriff Court

Campaigners for Haddington Sheriff Court are appealing to the new Justice Secretary, Michael Matheson, to rethink the decision to close their local court. 

Haddington is one of four sheriff courts scheduled for closure at the end of January 2015, in the final tranche of 10 closures confirmed by Mr Matheson’s predecessor Kenny MacAskill, following proposals by the Scottish Court Service. Cases that would have been heard there will transfer to Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The East Lothian Faculty of Procurators, which represents local solicitors, along with MSP Iain Gray, claim "huge local backing" for the continuance of the court, which has been hearing cases for 800 years. They say it could be kept open on a more economical basis by allowing the new summary sheriffs, to be introduced under the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 to hear lower value civil cases and summary criminal business, to sit there. 

They maintain that Edinburgh Sheriff Court is already overstretched and “bursting at the seams”.

A protest at a meeting of East Lothian Council tomorrow (16 December) will call for the support of all local councillors to back the campaign.

If Haddington Sheriff Court closes, East Lothian will become the only local authority area in the Lothian & Borders Sheriffdom without a sheriff court within its boundaries.

Angela Craig, Acting Dean of East Lothian Faculty of Procurators, said they were "totally opposed to East Lothian losing this vital public service".

She added: “Plans to move all business to Edinburgh Sheriff Court are not sensible or well thought-out, given the number of summary criminal cases being processed in Scottish courts has increased by 30% in 2014. This has already resulted in reported overcrowding at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

“We are calling on the new Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson MSP to look afresh at this issue and consider if the option for appointing a summary sheriff can work in Haddington."

Mr Gray commented: "It may be a long shot, but I'm willing to support any attempt to overturn this damaging decision."

Willie Innes, leader of East Lothian Council, confirmed that the council was "happy to support any campaign to keep the court open”.