The High Court of Justiciary is Scotland’s supreme criminal court. When sitting it hears the most serious criminal cases, such as murder and rape. A single judge hears cases with a jury of 15 people.
The maximum penalty that may be imposed in the High Court is life imprisonment or an unlimited fine.
When a case is prosecuted before the High Court, we instruct Counsel, also known as an Advocate, to represent your interests. At Mactaggart Solicitors we will carefully prepare your case and instruct a suitable advocate to present your defence. Usually a Junior Counsel will be instructed to represent you but in more serious or complex cases a Senior Counsel or Q.C (Queen’s Counsel) will be the appropriate choice. On occasion a Senior and Junior will be instructed together. There are also a number of Solicitor Advocates to choose from. We will always endeavour to instruct the most talented Advocates to represent you.
We no longer undertake Legal Aid for High Court matters.
We provide for representation in the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow and Edinburgh.