Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
Agency overview
Formed	2010
Jurisdiction	Scotland
Headquarters	SCTS Headquarters, 1A Parliament Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF
Employees	Approx. 1,500
Annual budget	£153 million (2022–2023)
Minister responsible	Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs;
Agency executive	Eric McQueen, Chief Executive;
Parent department	Scottish Government
Website	scotcourts.gov.uk

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) is an independent body responsible for managing Scotland's courts and tribunals. It was established in 2010 under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 to support the Scottish judiciary and ensure the efficient administration of justice.

Overview

The SCTS provides services for the Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary, Sheriff Court, Justice of the Peace Court and various tribunals.^[1]

Duties

Managing court buildings and facilities^[2]
Maintaining the security of courts in partnership with Police Scotland
Providing administrative support to all courts and tribunals in Scotland
Ensuring access to justice for all individuals, including accommodations for persons with disabilities
Supporting the judiciary, including the Lord President of the Court of Session, who also serves as the head of the SCTS Board

Governance

The SCTS is governed by a board chaired by the Lord President of the Court of Session, the most senior judge in Scotland. Other board members include judicial representatives, tribunal members and lay members with expertise in finance, business and public administration. The Chief Executive, Eric McQueen, oversees daily operations and implements the board's strategic vision.^[3]

Court network

Superior Courts: Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary
Justice of the Peace Courts: Handle minor criminal offenses
Sheriff Courts: Scotland's primary local courts for civil and criminal cases
Tribunals: Including the Lands Tribunal for Scotland and the Housing and Property Chamber

Digital transformation

Digital case management systems
Online payment systems for fines and fees
Remote hearing technology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic

Budget

For the financial year 2022–2023, the SCTS had an allocated budget of £153 million for court operations, facilities and staff salaries.^[source?]

Independence

Although the SCTS works closely with the Scottish Government, it operates independently to ensure judicial impartiality^{[clarification needed]} and uphold the rule of law in Scotland within the constitutional framework of the United Kingdom.

Related pages

Other websites

References

↑ http://legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/6
↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2024-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
↑ http://legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/6

[1] ttp://legislation.gov.uk/asp/2008/6

[2] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2024-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[3] ttp://legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/6

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