On 17 November 2020, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) published data on criminal case throughput.

Key points:

           - following an initial reduction after lockdown, the overall level of new cases registered has risen to 78% of the average monthly pre-COVID level

           - petitions (a useful indicator of future solemn business), are 15% higher than the average monthly pre-COVID level

           - with High Court remote jury centres now in place, evidence led trials are now 67% of the average monthly pre-COVID level

           - remote Jury Centres are being extended across Scotland to re-start sheriff court jury trials

           - evidence led summary trials in the Sheriff Courts are now 83% of the average monthly pre-COVID levels

           - the total volume of cases (not necessarily those that go on to a trial) concluded in October was 82% of the average monthly pre-COVID level.