Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including For Women Scotland judicial review response - Monday January 26

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots Law and beyond includes the Scottish Government's legal response to the For Women Scotland judicial review.

Scottish Government's FWS judicial review response

The Scottish Government has issued written arguments in response to a case brought by campaign group For Women Scotland about transgender prisoners.

A three-day hearing at the Court of Session is due to begin on 3 February.

For Women Scotland has brought the case following its successful appeal to the Supreme Court about the definition of a woman in the Equality Act.

• 'Blanket rule' for trans prisoners would violate rights, ministers to argue (BBC)
• [£] Scottish government claims latest For Women Scotland gender case is ‘irrelevant’ (The Lawyer)
• Trans prison ban would violate human rights, Scottish Government argues (STV)
• Trans prison ban would violate human rights, says Scottish Government (Scotsman)

Law Society of Scotland issues election priority asks

The Law Society of Scotland has published its priorities ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, focusing on six key areas to boost prosperity and provide for fairness and justice for all.

The professional body for Scottish solicitors has produced Justice Matters – What Scotland’s Political Parties Must Deliver at the 2026 Parliament Election

• Law Society election priorities a roadmap to justice and prosperity (Law Socity of Scotland)
• Law Society of Scotland calls for legal aid reform under justice system overhaul (STV)
• Law Society election priorities: a ‘roadmap to justice and prosperity’ (Scottish Legal News)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

• Netflix Letby documentary to feature unseen footage (BBC)
• Recommendations to boost policing made as audit finds public confidence falling (STV)
• [£] Lawyers are ‘endangered’ in Donald Trump’s America, international group warns (Financial Times)
• David Lammy’s plan to seize law firm interest sparks outrage (City AM)
• Judge-only trials in England and Wales will not wipe out crown court backlog, report says (Guardian)
• Assisted dying bill backers say it is ‘near impossible’ it will pass House of Lords (Guardian)
• [£] Solicitor struck off for lying about cancer diagnosis (Times)
• Awaab's Law to be introduced in Scotland (Government Business)
• Police hit back at decision not to bring more charges against Lucy Letby (STV)
• [£] Fired Moët Hennessy worker acquitted of defamation (Financial Times)
• Sir James Munby obituary (Guardian)
• Mum of death-in-custody Scottish student welcomes report finding 'routine contempt' (Edinburgh Live)
• Police officer charged with raping woman to face no court proceedings (STV)
• Slapper slapped — High Court sets aside disciplinary finding against solicitor (Joshua Rozenberg)
• [£] Historical case of the month: The murdering philanderer and his unidentified victim (Times)
• [£] Steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta’s prosecution over accounts put on hold (Financial Times)
• Addleshaw Goddard doubles its Glasgow space with new office (The Business Desk)
• [£] Cryptoassets law to ‘turbo-charge’ UK’s digital finance market (Times)