Edinburgh Court photos, History, Scotland legal property, Architects, Scottish Justiciary Architecture Images
Edinburgh Court Buildings : Architecture
Courthouses in Edinburgh Old Town, High Court of Justiciary Scotland
post updated 6 November 2023
High Court of Justiciary – Edinburgh Court: Royal Mile building, Old Town
Royal Mile building photos © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh Courts
About the High Court
High Court of Justiciary entrance, Edinburgh
The High Court of Justiciary is Scotland’s supreme criminal court. When sitting at first instance as a trial court, it hears the most serious criminal cases, such as murder and rape. A single judge hears cases with a jury of 15 people.
At first instance, it sits in cities and larger towns around Scotland and has a permanent base in Edinburgh (Lawnmarket), Glasgow (Saltmarket) and Aberdeen (Mercatgate). There are periodic sittings in Dumbarton, Lanark, Livingston, Paisley and Stirling. As an appeal court, it sits only in Edinburgh.
Judiciary
The High Court is presided over by the Lord Justice General and the Lord Justice Clerk. They usually sit as chairpersons in the courts of criminal appeal. The other full time judges, who are also Senators of the College of Justice, are known as Lords Commissioners of Justiciary when sitting in the High Court.
Appeal Court
When sitting as an appeal court, the court consists of at least three judges when hearing appeals against conviction and two when hearing sentence appeals. More judges may sit when the court is dealing with exceptionally difficult cases or those where important matters of law may be considered. Appeals are heard from the High Court. The High Court also hears appeals in cases referred to it by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission.
The Lord Advocate may refer a point of law which arises in the course of a case to the High Court for an opinion. This allows the High Court to give directions which set out the law for future similar cases.
source: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/supreme-courts/high-court/about-the-high-court
Edinburgh Court Buildings in Old Town
Edinburgh Court: Cowgate buildings, Old Town:
Old Town building photos © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh Court building on Chamber Street
Chamber Street legal property picture © Adrian Welch
Scottish Supreme Court News Update
£130m Law Courts redevelopment – Parliament House off Royal Mile
Old Town Law Courts picture © Adrian Welch
Parliament House – Edinburgh Court building
High Court of Justiciary – Edinburgh Court: Royal Mile building
High Court of Justiciary building picture © Adrian Welch
Context to Edinburgh Court buildings: Advocates’ Library Edinburgh
Advocates’ Library picture © Adrian Welch
View of Cowgate buildings from George IV Bridge:
Cowgate buildings picture © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh Architecture
Contemporary Scottish Capital Property Designs – recent architectural selection below:
Scottish Parliament Building
Scottish Parliament Building picture © Keith Hunter
Edinburgh Walking Tours – city architectural walks by e-architect guides – booking required.
Quartermile – major property development of former hospital site:
Quartermile property development picture © Adrian Welch
Calton Gate – controversial city centre development
Calton Gate property image : ANTA architecture
Buildings / photos for the Edinburgh Court Architecture – Justiciary Buildings in the Old Town, Lothian, southeast Scotland, United Kingdom, page welcome.