Civil justice statistics in Scotland: 2016-2017

The 2016-17 Civil Justice in Scotland release includes main statistics tables and figures and supplementary statistics tables.


Table 3: Cases[1] initiated and disposed of[2] in the sheriff courts[3], by procedure, 2008-09 to 2016-17

Cases Procedure 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 % change since 2015-16 % change since 2008-09
Initiated Ordinary cause 46,477 42,823 34,123 26,021 24,957 24,026 23,628 23,212 22,672 -2 -51
Summary cause[4] 32,736 27,464 23,799 22,783 18,510 18,852 20,624 22,160 20,214 -9 -38
Small claim 47,091 41,450 34,386 31,698 29,043 29,633 27,353 26,848 18,857 -30 -60
Simple procedure[5] z z z z z z z z 6,690 z z
Total initiated 126,304 111,737 92,308 80,502 72,510 72,511 71,605 72,220 68,433 -5 -46
Disposed Ordinary cause 38,902 33,911 29,768 23,410 20,733 19,575 18,768 19,102 17,210 -10 -56
Summary cause[4] 31,231 27,568 24,036 22,434 19,831 17,876 18,984 20,638 20,557 0 -34
Small claim 41,408 43,352 33,700 31,303 28,217 27,905 28,053 26,492 23,571 -11 -43
Simple procedure[5] z z z z z z z z 1,032 z z
Total disposed 111,541 104,831 87,504 77,147 68,781 65,356 65,805 66,232 62,370 -6 -44

1. Excludes summary applications.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. Excludes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
4. First phase of simple procedure replaces the more straightforward cases of summary cause from 28 November 2016.
5. The first phase of simple procedure replaces the small claims and the more straightforward cases under summary procedure.
It commenced on 28 November 2016 and therefore does not cover a full year.

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