Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

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Key definition

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service definition

What does Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service mean? In practice, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) runs the day-to-day administration of Scotland’s courts and devolved tribunals, supporting judges, tribunal members and users. Its functions are set out in legislation (principally the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, with tribunal responsibilities provided under the Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014). It operates as an independent statutory body governed by a board chaired by the Lord President, helping to safeguard judicial independence. SCTS provides staffing, estate and security management, IT and digital services, case registration and listing, courtroom support and records management. It publishes forms and operational guidance and administers payment of...

Crown disclosure obligations in Scottish criminal proceedings: statutory framework, summary and solemn practice, defence statements, sensitive material, appeals and digital evidence sharing

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Practice notes

In Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is under a duty to reveal all material in its possession to the defence. This obligation to disclose applies to prosecutions under both summary and Solemn procedure. For an overview of criminal investigation and prosecution policy in Scotland, see Practice Note: The investigation and prosecution of criminal offences in Scotland. For details on summary procedure in Scottish criminal proceedings, see Practice Note: Summary procedure in Scottish criminal proceedings and Scottish Summary criminal procedure—flowchart. For information on solemn procedure in Scottish criminal proceedings, see Practice Note: Solemn procedure in Scottish criminal proceedings and Scottish solemn criminal procedure—flowchart.

Background

The Crown’s requirement to provide the defence with all material it holds arises from the accused’s right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The scope of the Crown’s disclosure duty was first defined in McLeod v HM Advocate. The Crown’s responsibilities were then refined by a series of rulings from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the Supreme Court, with decisions in cases such as Holland v HM Advocate and Sinclair v...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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