Blogger’s appeal against Kezia Dugdale ruling heard in virtual courtroom

“When one sends the blunderbuss tweet to the world at large, one loses the defence” – Roddy Dunlop QC Three of Scotland’s most senior judges have heard arguments in a virtual courtroom about a pro-independence blogger’s alleged defamation by Kezia Dugdale. In a first in Scottish legal history, the panel met separately via video link while cases were put forward in the online Court of Session’s Inner House appeal. Judges Lord Carloway, Lord Menzies and Lord Brodie heard the appeal via video link on Tuesday. Proceedings only had to be paused once when Roddy Dunlop QC, representing Ms Dugdale, appeared to lose connection on his laptop due to poor bandwidth and had to swap to an iPad. He added: “The technology worked well from the Court’s perspective and the hearing captured the ambience of a physical courtroom. Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, said: “The judiciary fully support the promotion of virtual cases where it is technologically possible and appropriate in the current situation.”