Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025

67 Research into juries

(1) The Contempt of Court Act 1981 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 8 (confidentiality of jury’s deliberations: Scotland and Northern Ireland)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “subsection (2)” substitute “subsections (1A) and (2)”,

(b) after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) This section does not apply to the disclosure of any particulars made in accordance with leave granted under section 8A(1) or to the publication of any particulars so disclosed.”.

(3) After section 8 insert—

“8A Research into juries

(1) The Lord Justice General may, for the purposes of research into juries in solemn proceedings, grant leave to a person to obtain, disclose, solicit or publish particulars of—

(a) statements made,

(b) opinions expressed,

(c) arguments advanced, or

(d) votes cast,

by members of a jury in the course of their deliberations in such proceedings.

(2) Leave under subsection (1) may be—

(a) granted subject to conditions,

(b) withdrawn or amended either generally or in relation to any particular matter.”.