In a first for Scotland there will be a regular livestream from the Criminal Appeal Court from today in a move to demonstrate the openness an transparency of the judicial system which The Lord Justice General, Lord Pentland, promised when he took office earlier in the year.
Lord Pentland said: “The principle of open justice is fundamental to our legal system and, indeed, the stability of our country. It helps secure the efficient and impartial administration of justice and supports public confidence in and respect for the rule of law.
“The launch of Criminal Appeal Court Live is the latest initiative to be introduced as part of our commitment to this important principle and I’m pleased to open up the court to a much wider, online audience.
“The service will help to educate and inform the public about the work of the Criminal Appeal Court and allow interested parties – including complainers – to view proceedings without the need to attend in person.
“It will also provide the media with more efficient access to cases to assist with informed and accurate reporting and allow academics and students to engage with the court process in a more convenient way.
“This is an important step in ensuring that justice can be seen to be done in today’s digitally driven world.”
Criminal Appeal Court Live which is filmed in Court 2 at Parliament House in Edinburgh will initially feature appeals against conviction and Crown (prosecution) appeals against sentence, with a view to all appeals eventually being livestreamed.
The SCTS website will be updated with details of the new service and provide additional information on upcoming cases, including a brief outline of the appeal, a link to the livestream feed, and any written decision of the court.
Details of cases to be livestreamed can be found on the Criminal Appeal Court Live webpage on the SCTS website.
