Types of Court Proceedings

There are courts all over Scotland and they deal with different sorts of cases.

Criminal court proceedings

There are two types of criminal court proceedings:

• Solemn proceedings: these are the most serious criminal cases where there is a jury to decide the verdict. These cases can take place in the High Court or the Sheriff Court.
• Summary proceedings: these are criminal cases where there is no jury. It is the sheriff or magistrate who makes the decision. These cases can take place in the Sheriff Court or the District Court.

More about Criminal Court Proceedings.

Children's hearing court proceedings 

These are much less formal court proceedings. A children’s hearing court case will take place in the Sheriff Court, but are sometimes held in a smaller room within the court building. More about Children's Hearing court proceedings.

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