SNP backbenchers have been urged to reject the Scottish Government’s “chaotic” approach to court closures.
The Scottish Court Service wants to close 10 sheriff court buildings, including Cupar, Arbroath and Stonehaven.
Time is running out for constituency members across the country to decide whether to endorse the plans or back their communities, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said.
He raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions, criticising Alex Salmond’s plan to shut court buildings with histories dating back five centuries.
Mr Rennie wants SNP members on Holyrood’s Justice Committee to turn down the proposals.
“The clock is ticking. Twelve days for SNP members on the Justice Committee to make that big decision: to back their Government or back their community,” he said.
“Five hundred years of local service, against this Government’s cavalier and chaotic approach. Wouldn’t it be safer for SNP members to stand up for their communities and reject his court closures?”
New “justice centres” could see entire regions moving all court business under just one roof.
Answering the Lib Dem challenge, Mr Salmond said backbenchers will make decisions based on what is best for the delivery of justice in communities across the country.
Drawing attention to Mr Rennie’s four Lib Dem colleagues at Holyrood, Mr Salmond said: “I know he likes to believe that somehow public services in Scotland should be immune from Westminster cutbacks.
“Nobody in Scotland doesn’t understand the position, which is exactly why the Liberal Democrats used to have a football team in this Parliament and now they’ve got a subs bench.”