Crown Office prosecutors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action following a long-running dispute over pay.
A consultative ballot by the FDA trade union saw 95% of those asked vote in favour of the action, which could see around 500 procurators fiscal walking out in early Spring.
It comes as the country’s court service struggles to recover following a shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis, with the legal system facing a large backlog of cases.
The dispute – which will now proceed to a statutory ballot in the New Year – centres on lawyers with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) being paid less than their counterparts within the Scottish Government.