Focus on Criminal courts backlog – video transcript
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General
The business of criminal courts in Scotland has changed significantly, with the number of outstanding trials reducing since 2022.
But a rise in serious cases has increased the High Court backlog, and that’s putting pressure on the whole justice system. [Over 1,000 outstanding High Court trials at the end of 2025/26].
The Scottish Government has a modernisation programme to increase efficiency, but it needs to improve its delivery arrangements across that programme. 
[audit.scot]