The 2024 Justice Sector Equalities Conference hosted by the FJSS Group stood as a pivotal event in Scotland’s efforts to foster diversity and inclusion within its justice system. Held on August 29, 2024, at Parliament Hall in Edinburgh, the conference united leaders, policymakers, and practitioners determined to create a legal sector truly reflective of Scottish society.

Background and Purpose

The FJSS Group—Fair Justice System for Scotland—has led grassroots advocacy to advance racial diversity and inclusivity within the Scottish justice system since its inception in 2019. The annual conference is the Group’s signature event, designed to gather stakeholders from across the sector to address persistent challenges and deliver practical solutions for ethnic minority representation, policy development, and inclusion in law enforcement and the judiciary.

Key Theme and Objectives

The 2024 conference theme, “Our Judiciary and Law Enforcement: How Diversity and Inclusion Might Look Like,” emphasized reimagining leadership in justice settings. Core aims included:

• Highlighting the importance of active measures for racial equality and inclusion in Scotland’s legal profession

• Exploring pathways and strategies to ensure the justice system mirrors Scotland’s multicultural reality

• Reviewing ongoing and new frameworks to implement systemic diversification

Programme Highlights and Major Speakers

The conference featured a robust programme anchored by addresses from:

• Lord President, Lord Carloway (President, Court of Session and Lord Justice General of Scotland): Opened with a call for responsive, diverse justice administration.

• Sheriff Pino Di Emidio (Director, Judicial Institute for Scotland): Provided context on the evolution of judicial diversity.

• Rt Hon Angela Constance MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs): Delivered the keynote, stressing Scottish Government priority for sectoral reform and inclusivity.

A high-level panel—moderated by Lindsay Jack (Law Society of Scotland)—included opinion leaders such as:

• Ms Susan Murray (President, Law Society of Scotland),

• Ms Paula Stevenson (CEO, Judicial Appointments Board),

• Toney Jones KC (Senior Partner, Brodies LLP),

• Catriona Paton (Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland),

• The Rt Honourable Lady Wise (President, Scottish Tribunals Council),

• Dr Amon Haniff and Dr Katie Myhill (FJSS Group Strategy and Policy).

Conference Structure and Activities

• In-Person Format: Hosted at the historic Parliament Hall, the event was by invitation to facilitate direct network-building among sectoral representatives.

• Panel Discussions and Workshops: Explored strategic solutions for policy transformation, implementation of frameworks to diversify bench and law enforcement, and shared success stories as models for other jurisdictions.

• Special Sessions: Included development and review of the “Roadmap to Diversification of the Scottish Justice System,” with actionable commitments and follow-up strategies.

Outcomes and Impact

• Participants reaffirmed the need to proactively advance diversity, especially for Black and minority ethnic groups, across all justice sector roles.

• The Framework for Implementation—presented by Dr Haniff and Dr Myhill—was widely adopted as a living policy tool for future benchmarking.

• Commitments included regular progress evaluations, capacity-building for underrepresented groups, and formalization of sector-wide accountability mechanisms.

• The event energized ongoing partnerships between government, legal societies, police, advisory boards, and advocacy NGOs—a united front determined to ensure that justice in Scotland is fair, accessible, and representative of all its communities.

Legacy and Future Directions

The 2024 FJSS Group conference cemented its reputation as a thought-leadership platform driving real change in Scottish justice. Attendees left with renewed resolve to actualize diversity and inclusion commitments, setting the tone for policy and societal advancement well into the future.