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UK Supreme Court Alters Sexual Offense Evidence Rules

11/13/2025

Summary

Story summary

The UK Supreme Court ruled that Scottish courts must change how they handle evidence in sexual offence trials to protect defendants' fair-trial rights.
It said current practices, which exclude evidence on complainants' credibility or sexual behavior, risk violating Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The court dismissed appeals from two convicted rapists but warned the ruling could trigger many past-conviction appeals and raise miscarriage-of-justice concerns.

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Story summary

The UK Supreme Court ruled that Scottish courts must change how they handle evidence in sexual offence trials to protect defendants' fair-trial rights.
It said current practices, which exclude evidence on complainants' credibility or sexual behavior, risk violating Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The court dismissed appeals from two convicted rapists but warned the ruling could trigger many past-conviction appeals and raise miscarriage-of-justice concerns.