Scottish officials decide not to appeal abortion buffer zone case

The Crown Office and Scotland’s public prosecutor chose not to appeal a ruling clearing Rose Docherty, 75, of two criminal charges of influencing people in a buffer zone around an abortion facility, Alliance Defending Freedom International said Friday. A judge dismissed the charges in April, and Scottish authorities let the appeal window expire, according to ADF.

The case was the second time Docherty faced prosecution for standing near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, holding a sign with the words “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” She did not approach anyone or speak about abortion while standing inside the buffer zone, according to ADF. Docherty was the first person to be charged under the 2024 buffer zone law. The first round of charges was also dropped.

Are Docherty’s legal troubles over? The judge dismissed her case pro loco et tempore, which allows prosecutors to revive the charges if they bring additional evidence and decide that a prosecution is in the public interest, according to ADF. Additionally, the charges were dropped because prosecutors couldn’t prove that another person was in the buffer zone while Docherty stood there. If she returns to the spot while someone else is present, Docherty could potentially face charges a third time.

Docherty was consulting with her ADF legal team to decide whether she should take legal action against police to ensure she would not be arrested and prosecuted again, according to ADF.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report on the dismissal of charges against Docherty.