A Lawyer Writes

A Lawyer Writes

Not proven

But Scotland is reforming jury trial anyway

Joshua Rozenberg's avatar
Joshua Rozenberg
Dec 29, 2025
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The centuries-old Scottish jury verdict of “not proven” is to be abolished from this week in what’s seen by some as an attempt to increase the proportion of rape convictions. But before an accused person can be convicted in Scotland, at least 10 members of a 15-person jury will now have to agree on a guilty verdict — rather than eight as at present.

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