The first trial took place at Inverness Justice Centre today with witnesses and accused personally present.
Since lockdown began at the end of March, only essential staff, solicitors and press have been allowed into the £32 million court buildings.
Some hearings have been conducted with the parties in different locations but connected by an online video link. Previous scheduled trials didn’t go ahead due to the absence either of witnesses or accused.
But history was made when 37-year-old Alan Ewing, of the city’s Craigard Terrace, stood in the dock of court 3 and denied charges of threatening behaviour and vandalism.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson was on the bench, Rowena Carlton was the fiscal depute and Neil Wilson was defending.
There were two witnesses, Ewing’s former partner and her father.
During their evidence, they told the court how Ewing arrived drunk at their home in Planefield Road, Inverness, on May 15.
When he arrived, he proceeded to bang on and kick at a glass door, dislodging a letter box, and threatened the father.
After a short trial, Ewing was found guilty. He admitted previous convictions, some of a domestic nature, but Sheriff Neilson was told his last court appearance was in 2018.
Sheriff Neilson ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.