The court hears appeals against bail decisions and against decisions in summary criminal proceedings from both the sheriff and the justice of the peace courts. An appeal against conviction is heard by three appeal sheriffs, while an appeal against sentence is normally heard by two appeal sheriffs.

The court also hears civil appeals from the sheriff courts.

The sheriffs principal automatically sit as appeal sheriffs alongside 12 sheriffs who are appointed to the court.

Among those speaking at the event was Lord Gill whose review of the court system in Scotland led to the establishment of the Sheriff Appeal Court in 2015.

The vision for the court was that summary criminal appeals and civil appeals from the Sheriff Court would be dealt with more radiply and that sentencing consistency throughout summary criminal courts would be enhanced.

Lord Gill and Lord Carloway both congratulated all those who had been involved in the Sheriff Appeal Court over the last 10 years. Lord Carloway mentioned that the success of the court could be measured in how few cases had been remitted to the Inner House while he was lord president.

The Lord President, Lord Pentland, said: “It is, if I may say so, due to Lord Gill’s and Lord Carloway’s unwavering commitment to innovation and reform that the Sheriff Appeal Court was created.

“The genesis and development of the Sheriff Appeal Court constitute, an admirable example of the judiciary, SCTS, the legal profession and other interests working together to establish a court which has become a valued and respected part of the Scottish legal system.”

President of the Sheriff Appeal Court, Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar, said: “The Sheriff Appeal Court has achieved the outcomes envisaged. Turnaround times have improved for appeals, and the second appeals test is ensuring that the Inner House only hears the most significant and complex appeals. Put shortly, litigants and accused persons are making their way through appeals processes far faster.”

Sheriff Principal Anwar highlighted some successes of the court, comparing data from 2007/08 to date: 

• The Sheriff Appeal Court has removed pressure from the High Court – there has been a 66 per cent reduction in the time taken to deal with sentence appeals and a 44 per cent reduction in the time taken to deal with conviction appeals in solemn business;
• There has been a 73 per cent reduction in the time taken to deal with sentence appeals and an 84 per cent reduction in the time taken to deal with conviction appeals in summary cases;
• There has been a 50 per cent reduction in the time taken to dispose of civil appeals from the sheriff court.

Sheriff Principal Anwar also noted that since 2016, only 19 motions have been made to remit an appeal to the Inner House.