The Scottish Government

Advocate Depute

Crown counsel (including senior advocate deputes, advocate deputes and ad hoc advocate deputes) prosecute cases in the High Court.

Children's Reporter

Conducts court cases arising from children's hearings, including those called to establish grounds for referral. The reporter presents the case, leads evidence from witnesses, cross-examines defence witnesses, and sums up at the conclusion.

Court Officer/Macer (High Court)

The court officer/macer assists the court during the case. S/He checks all witnesses are in attendance and in the correct waiting room/area. S/He calls witnesses from the waiting room when it is their time to give evidence and shows the witness where to stand or sit in court.

Defence Agent/ Defence Solicitor

Represents the accused in a criminal trial, questions prosecution witnesses and presents evidence for the defence. Each accused is entitled to their own solicitor.
In children's hearing proceedings the defence solicitor performs the same function on behalf of the young person who the proceedings are about, if old enough, and the relevant person/s. (The relevant person is usually a parent of the child. Others, such as grandparents or foster carers, could also be relevant persons.) Each relevant person is entitled to his own solicitor.

Defence Counsel/ Defence Advocate

An advocate or solicitor advocate may be instructed by the defence solicitor to present the case for the accused (criminal trial) or relevant person (children's hearing proceedings). In this event the instructing solicitor will also attend.

Jury

Fifteen people, who are members of the public, chosen at random to listen to all evidence and take direction from the sheriff or the High Court judge before deciding if the accused person is guilty or innocent.

Police Officer or Security Officer

May be present in court to escort an accused, or where safety and security within the court require it.

Press

A court reporter may be present at a criminal trial subject to any restrictions or conditions imposed by sheriff or trial judge.

Procurator Fiscal/ Fiscal Depute

Prepares the prosecution case in the Sheriff and High Court and, in Sheriff Court criminal trials, also presents the prosecution case against the accused, leads evidence from prosecution witnesses, cross-examines defence witnesses and sums up at the conclusion of the case.

Safeguarder

In children's hearing proceedings a safeguarder may be appointed either by a hearing or by the sheriff.
The safeguarder has a legal or social work background and experience of children's matters. S/He is appointed to safeguard the interests of the child who is the subject of the court proceedings. (If the safeguarder is not a solicitor s/he may choose to instruct a solicitor to represent him or her in court.)

Scribe/Note-taker

The procurator fiscal, children's reporter or any solicitor or advocate involved in the case may be assisted by a note-taker or scribe in noting evidence throughout the case. In High Court trials a shorthand writer may be present to provide a record of proceedings.

Sheriff/ High Court Judge

The sheriff/High Court judge presides over the court, makes sure that the law is complied with, and decides what sentence should be given if the accused person is found guilty.

Clerk of Court

The clerk of court calls the cases, records court proceedings and advises court users on court procedures.