The Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2026

The Scope of the EQIA

The Scottish Government has assessed the potential impact of the proposed Order on equal opportunities with respect to protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010, including age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership.

As the Order is primarily administrative in nature, it was considered proportionate to assess it against pre-existing data and evidence contained in the 2025 Judicial Office for Scotland’s diversity statistics, Judicial Attitudes Survey 2024 and the JABS Diversity report 2018-2015. The Lord President has also been consulted on the Order. There was no requirement to carry out further evidence gathering or external engagement.