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BBC Scotland’s home affairs correspondent, David Cowan, reports on the upcoming livestreaming of an appeal in a trial that has been postponed three times. This will be the first case to be broadcast under the new service from the Scottish courts, “Criminal Appeal Court Live”. The public will have the opportunity to watch the case unfold online later this week. The case involves an unnamed woman facing multiple charges related to two children, marking a significant milestone in Scotland’s legal system.
Trials for this case were initially scheduled in November 2023, September 2024, and June 2025 but were adjourned each time due to insufficient court capacity. The woman’s legal team is currently contesting a sheriff’s decision to grant prosecutors an extension until October to proceed with the trial. It’s important to note that prisoners will not be shown in the livestreamed footage, and any appeals involving new witnesses testifying in person will not be featured as well.
Offering insights into this groundbreaking initiative, Lord Justice General Lord Pentland highlighted the importance of “open justice” facilitated by technology. The aim is to grant a wider audience access to courtroom proceedings to enhance understanding of the legal system. The service initially focuses on appeals against convictions and prosecution appeals against sentence but aims to eventually include all appeals. Safeguards will be in place to protect the identities of sexual crime victims, with strict repercussions for those who misuse the footage.
Scotland’s courts have been pioneering in allowing the filming of sentencings in significant criminal cases, setting a precedent for other jurisdictions. Lord Pentland emphasized the regulated nature of this move and stressed that courts are not meant for entertainment. The livestreaming will take place from Parliament House in Edinburgh, providing insight into the workings of the justice system without the need for physical attendance. This development aligns with the principles of transparency and accessibility in the legal sphere
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