The 46-year-old, a prisoner within HMP Addiewell, died on 1 August 2023.
Mr Pickering was in legal custody and in the care of the state at the time of his death.
A Preliminary Hearing will be held on 25 November 2026 at Livingston Sheriff Court.
The purpose of an FAI includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what reasonable precautions could have been taken to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature, and are used to establish facts rather than apportion blame.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s death investigation authority, said:
“The death of Alexander Pickering occurred while in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory.
“The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of a Sheriff.”
Further information
For more information on Fatal Accident Inquiries see the Crown’s guide.