The majority of criminal trials will be put on hold while Scotland is in lockdown, the courts service has announced.
Until the end of February only the most serious cases will go ahead reducing the number of criminal trials taking place during lockdown by 75 per cent.
The changes will come into force tomorrow in a bid to curb the transmission of the new Covid-19 variant.
The new rules will significantly reduce the number of people required to attend court in person.
All criminal jury trials in the High Court and Sheriff Court will continue, with priority given to cases where people are in custody and where alleged offences are serious or include sexual offences and offences involving domestic abuse and children.
New custody cases and summary custody trials in the Sheriff Courts and Justice of the Peace courts will proceed.
The majority of non-custody trials and procedural hearings will be adjourned.
Criminal appeals will continue to operate virtually and remotely, as will non-criminal court business such as civil and family cases.
The changes are expected to remain in place until February 28 but will be kept under regular review with a formal review due to take place on February 15.
As an additional measure, the Lord President has also made it mandatory for face coverings to be worn inside court rooms.
It is hoped that the new guidance will be able to maintain essential court business and minimise case backlogs.
Court buildings will still remain open with safety measures in place for those who need to attend.
Further details on the guidance can be found on the Scottish Court and Tribunal Service website.
