Who is present in criminal court proceedings?

• The judge or sheriff
• The procurator fiscal or advocate depute
• Defence lawyer(s)
• Jury
• The clerk of court
• The court officer
• The accused
• Court police or security officers

Criminal courts are usually open to the public. Members of the public, over the age of 14, can sit in the public area at the back of the courtroom to watch and listen to the witnesses and lawyers.

However, in some cases, the courtroom will be closed to members of the public.

The press are not excluded from any court, even if the courtroom is closed to the rest of the public. If the press decide to report on the case, they will not identify victims of any sexual offence.

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