POLITICIANS in East Lothian have backed a move to consider holding remote court hearings in the county.

Local court cases have been held at Edinburgh Sheriff Court since Haddington’s court closed its doors at the beginning of 2015.

Now, fresh consideration could be given to remote court hearings, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Both Kenny MacAskill MP – who, as Scotland’s Justice Secretary at the time, did not oppose the court’s closure; he is now East Lothian’s MP – and Iain Gray MSP felt there was merit in the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) exploring the idea.

Mr Gray, who along with the Courier campaigned to keep Haddington Sheriff Court open, recently wrote to Humza Yousaf MSP, Scotland’s Justice Secretary, calling for remote court hearings to be held in the county as the court system recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Yousaf told the East Lothian MSP that there were no immediate plans for such hearings but that he had shared the suggestion with the SCTS to take into account when considering future plans.

Mr Gray said: “Given the history of the closure of our court in Haddington, it’s not really a surprise that there are no current plans for holding remote court hearings in East Lothian.

“However, I welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s apparent openness to consider this option as part of future plans for our justice system.”

The county MSP’s call comes amid reports of a large reduction

in the number of trials taking place at Scotland’s courts due to coronavirus, and the subsequent negative impact it had on victims, witnesses and others in the justice system.

Using technology to conduct some court business locally was something Mr MacAskill – as Justice Secretary – had said would be explored when Haddington Sheriff Court closed.

Mr Gray said: “I believe that the dramatic delays and backlog in court cases that the pandemic has caused, and the impact this is having on victims, witnesses and other court users, means we should explore all options for getting our justice system back on track.

“Virtual courts have been running for some time and court practitioners and sheriffs are now getting used to remote working.

“I believe conducting some hearings remotely via videolink to East Lothian could play a part in tackling the backlog, make access to justice easier and safer for local people, and help return a local dimension to the administration of justice.”

Mr MacAskill said that coronavirus had changed the world.

He said: “Virtual and remote participation is now made possible by technology and practised across wide sectors. Jury trials are being organised using cinemas for jury participation.

“There’s a cost factor in the technology and sometimes a need for personal attendance.

“But the concept is now with us and it’s right that additional ways of easing what can be stressful should be considered. I’m sure SCTS will look into this and see what can be done not just for vulnerable witnesses, where it already applies, but for many others.”

An SCTS spokesman said that new technology had been introduced to enable virtual hearings in various courts.

He said: “This reduces the need for people to attend our courts and tribunals buildings. In criminal cases, attendance of the accused is excused for the majority of court hearings, other than criminal trials where witnesses also attend.

“We are continuing to develop approaches where, in certain cases, witnesses can participate in the trial virtually.

“We have also introduced a highly innovative approach of having jurors based in remote jury centres within cinema complexes.

“The High Court and Sheriff Solemn Court have now returned to pre-Covid capacity, with summary criminal business increasing to pre-Covid capacity prior to the current lockdown.

“The approach we have taken to reduce people attending courts has created the capacity to start addressing the backlogs and we are working closely with the judiciary, Scottish Government, justice organisations, the legal profession and the third sector to implement further solutions.”