Courts

Justice Secretary Neil Gray has described a dedicated sexual offences court as ‘necessary’placeholder image

Rape crisis charity calls for clarity over new sexual offences court

Late Argentine rugby international Federico Martin Aramburu's widow, Mari­a Aramburu (L) leaves the Assize Court, France's criminal court, after a hearing in the trial of two far-right activists over the 2022 Aramburu's killing in Paris.placeholder image

Two men jailed for murder of ex-Glasgow Warriors player

Alex Salmondplaceholder image

SNP ministers clash in court with FOI watchdog over Salmond files

Edinburgh Sheriff Court is perhaps an unlikely place to spend your retirement voluntarily (Picture: Duncan McGlynn)placeholder image

How pensioners are making a real difference at Edinburgh Sheriff Court Karyn McCluskey

The Scottish government is proposing a number of justice reforms placeholder image

Prison sentences of under 12 months should be abolished, says quango

Jagtar Singh Johal placeholder image

Scot detained in India Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail, says family

Scotland's judiciary have criticised the Scottish government's plans for automatic early release of prisonersplaceholder image

Scotland's judges issue warning over SNP's early prisoner release plan

Claire Kellerman (l) with her late aunt and adoptive mother, Sally. Picture: Getty Imagesplaceholder image

Exclusive Peer resigns from law centre over island dog snub row

The SNP government has pledged to implement a promised sexual offences courtplaceholder image

Exclusive SNP ministers fail to find funding for flagship sexual offences court

A prison guard at HMP Barlinnie. The Scottish Government is seeking to reduce the prison population, which has reached a record high in recent months, by the use of more community-based sentences. placeholder image

Exclusive Do not limit Scottish courts ability to jail, top lawyers warn

The Ministry of Defence has paid out nearly £2.5m in compensation. Picture: PAplaceholder image

Abuse victims of air cadet leader secure nearly £2.5m in compensation

Claire Kellerman with her mother Sallyplaceholder image

Exclusive Charity hit by dog row legal action opens fundraiser to 'save' centre

Victims and witness involved in serious court cases will have to wait longer for cases to conclude, it has been warned. Picture: PAplaceholder image

Longer delays for justice without 'significant' reform

The High Court will sit at 14 venues as of January 2027. Picture: PAplaceholder image

Increase in High Courts to tackle spike in trials

Aaron Strachan stalked his victim through Edinburgh city centre before attacking her in May 2025.placeholder image

Man who violently raped teenage girl 'may never be released'

The wreckage of the Chinook Helicopter which crashed on the Mull of Kintyre killing all 29 on boardplaceholder image

Chinook families urge Burnham to launch new review into 1994 tragedy

A local pub was cordoned off amid the incident placeholder image

Man charged in connection with death of 44-year-old Edinburgh woman

Nicolson was sentenced on Friday placeholder image

Scots fishing boat captain treated foreign crew workers ‘like slaves’

The Scottish government faces calls to overhaul the council tax systemplaceholder image

Calls for council tax reform as thousands of Scots in debt

Nicola Sturgeon and her now estranged husband Peter Murrell arrive for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, London, during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022placeholder image

Up to courts if Sturgeon has to give back Murrell gifts, Swinney says

Sitka spruce is the most common conifer in Scotland placeholder image

Scottish Forestry taken to court again over environmental concerns

Parliament Square in Edinburghplaceholder image

Explainer What Scotland's political parties have planned for law and order

Ross Davidson placeholder image

Ex-Spandau Ballet singer jailed for rapes and sexual assaults

Real tennis is the historic forerunner of the modern sport, and is still played on courts around the world to this day. Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP/Gettyplaceholder image

Exclusive Last surviving real tennis court of its kind in Scotland under threat

'King Atehene' and 'Queen Nandi' with handmaiden 'Asnat' of the self-styled "African tribe", Kingdom of Kubala. placeholder image

Explainer Kingdom of Kubala: Timeline of the African tribe evicted from Borders

Director James McAvoy on the set of California Schemin'.placeholder image

Exclusive California Schemin' producer in legal row 'financed film alone'

Todrig farm from the airplaceholder image

Rare butterfly not considered by Scottish Forestry in 'unlawful' move

There are reports of a man with a bladed weapon in the Calder area of Edinburghplaceholder image

Man charged with attempted murder after alleged stabbing in Edinburgh

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)placeholder image

What's inside the Salmond files? Salmond's 'floodgates' warning

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Timing of Murrell hearing is matter for the courts says Swinney

Police officers on the beatplaceholder image

Shoplifting in Scotland has increased 129% since 2021

The Scottish Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission called for a “rethink” of the current approach to sentencing and imprisonment. Picture: Ian Waldie/Gettyplaceholder image

Criminals cannot 'dodge jail' after call for sentencing rethink

The uplift in legal aid fees is set to come into force this September. Picture: PAplaceholder image

Scottish solicitors welcome legal aid fee uplift

The Marinera oil tankerplaceholder image

US to remove captain of oil tanker off Scottish coast 'imminently'

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Legal action against SNP for failing to release 'Salmond files'

Former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond.placeholder image

Swinney attacked for withholding 'Salmond files'

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Man who fired gun at former friend's home jailed for nine years

Failing to appear in court after a summons can result in an arrest and a spell in the cellsplaceholder image

The shocking number of people who fail to turn up for court Karyn McCluskey

Lewis Forbes was a member of a 30-strong masked mob that launched fireworks, set fires in the road and trashed a parked car in the Gracemount area of Edinburgh in 2024.placeholder image

Man who handed out fireworks during Bonfire Night riot jailed

Morgan Steadwood has escaped a jail termplaceholder image

Man who left victim with head injury after pub attack avoids jail

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Man who abducted and raped two women given indefinite jail sentence

Justice Secretary Angela Constance says the new two-verdict system will provide 'clear, unambiguous outcomes' (Picture: Andrew Milligan)placeholder image

SNP must take fears of surge in miscarriages of justice seriously

The Law Society has warned that the two-thirds majority that will be required to secure a conviction is ‘significantly less’ than the unanimity or near unanimit...

Maria Kelly took Leonardo UK to courtplaceholder image

Leonardo engineer to appeal after losing case over single-sex toilets

Robbie Gemmell outside Edinburgh Sheriff Courtplaceholder image

Man who caused crash which killed friends handed another road ban

Digitalisation accelerated dramatically after 2020placeholder image

Ad Feature The digital transformation of small claims in the UK

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KCplaceholder image

Chief prosecutor reassures victims of sex abuse after Court judgment

The Supreme Court said Scottish courts should ‘modify’ their approach to the admission of evidence in sexual offence trials. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wireplaceholder image

Use of rape shield laws may risk right to fair trials, court warns

The British coat of arms on the outside of the Supreme Court in central London.placeholder image

Supreme Court rules sex trial evidence rules could breach human rights

The emergency prisoner release scheme is a way of addressing Scotland’s prison population crisis, but experts warn it is not a sustainable solution. Picture: PAplaceholder image

Calls for systemic reform in wake of latest emergency prisoner release

Over the course of 45 years, a UK deportation decision has been found to violate human rights in only 13 cases at the European Court of Human Rights (Picture: Frederick Florin)placeholder image

Chicken nuggets deportation myth shows dangers of fake news about ECHR Professor Paul Arnell

Prison officers have hit out at the chronic overcrowding in Scotland’s prisons.placeholder image

'Crisis point' in Scotland's prisons has already been reached

The guidelines “better reflects” current sentencing practice, according to the Scottish Sentencing Council. placeholder image

Rape sentencing guidelines will 'enhance consistency'

The High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh is Scotland's supreme criminal court (Picture: Ian Georgeson)placeholder image

Readers’ Letters: Courts crunch shows SNP incompetence

A major spike in High Court trials is predicted over the next few years. Picture: Gettyplaceholder image

Exclusive Major trial spike sparks call for more courts amid victim impact fears

People protest against the Rosebank offshore development off Shetland. Picture: Jeff J Mitchellplaceholder image

Environment impact report on controversial Rosebank Oilfield revealed

The new national sexual offences court will use existing courtrooms including the High Court in Edinburghplaceholder image

Exclusive How Scotland's sexual offences court will work in practice

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Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wireplaceholder image

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Imagesplaceholder image

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Imagesplaceholder image

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries

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