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Guideline judgments

Judges - when sitting in higher appeal courts - can make decisions in cases that give guidance to other judges about the appropriate sentence to use in similar types of cases. These decisions are known as guideline judgments. These judgments can made by both the High Court (when sitting as the appeal court), and by the Sheriff Appeal Court. See our Guideline Judgments page for further detail.

Originally published on 20 July 2015. Updated on 15 April 2026.