Spain is witnessing heated debate over an unexpected government move: in 2026, authorities plan to add 500 new judicial positions at once. This decision has already been called the largest in the country’s history, affecting not only the capital but also key regions. Officials assure that this will strengthen the work of first-instance courts and improve the efficiency of higher judicial bodies. However, not all experts and members of the judiciary share the officials’ optimism.
The Ministry of Justice emphasizes that such a significant increase in the number of judges became possible thanks to a reform that changes the very structure of the courts. Instead of the familiar courts with a single judge and a small team, new collegial bodies will appear — the so-called instance tribunals. They will operate with unified technical support, which, according to officials, will allow a faster response to growing workloads and reduce costs.
The financial aspect
Authorities admit openly: the new approach to creating judicial positions will allow significant budget savings. Previously, establishing a fully functioning court cost the budget about half a million euros, but now, each new position will require around 100,000. In total, according to ministry estimates, 500 new positions will cost just under 56 million euros — five times less than under the previous system. Officials insist that this will not only increase the number of judges, but also make the system more flexible.
However, not everyone is satisfied with these calculations. Last year, members of the judicial council pointed out that even the previously announced 120 new positions did not solve the staffing shortage. According to them, the workload for judges in Spain remains one of the highest in Europe, while the average number of judges per capita is lower than in most EU countries. In January 2026, the head of the Supreme Court and the judicial council once again highlighted the ‘critical shortage’ of specialists and urged not to cut corners on the quality of justice.
Regional distribution
Special attention is being paid to how the new positions will be allocated. The ministry claims that objective criteria were considered: court caseload, population size, as well as proposals from regional authorities and the courts themselves. As a result, most new judges will go to Andalucía, Cataluña, Madrid, and Valencia. According to experts, these regions face the highest number of legal disputes and are the most overloaded with cases.
Of the 500 new positions, the majority—363—are designated for first instance courts. Two more will be added to the central tribunal, while 85 positions will be shared among collegial bodies: provincial courts, regional high courts, Audiencia Nacional, and the Supreme Court. The remaining 50 positions will be mobile and can be reallocated between regions depending on the current workload.
Response and prospects
The implementation of such a large-scale reform will begin with the approval of a special royal decree, which is currently under review. The document takes into account proposals not only from the Judicial Council but also from regional administrations, as well as the Ministries of Finance and Equality. Authorities emphasize that for the first time in a decade, it has been possible to unite the interests of all parties and reach a compromise on key issues.
Nevertheless, skepticism persists within the professional community. Judges and lawyers fear that the rapid increase in new positions could lead to lower standards for candidates and weaken the principles of equality and professionalism. Many also point out that without expanding support staff and technical resources, the reform may not deliver the expected results.
Challenges for the system
Whether Spain will be able to reach European standards in terms of the number of judges per capita remains an open question. Experts estimate that at least 370 new judicial positions are needed each year to cover natural attrition and increased workload. However, even such a substantial expansion as planned for 2026 does not guarantee a complete solution to the problem.
Authorities promise that the new system will enable a faster response to changes and more efficient reallocation of resources between regions. However, representatives of the judicial community insist that without a comprehensive approach and additional investment in infrastructure and staff training, the reform may remain only on paper. In the coming months, it will become clear whether this step will lead to real improvements in the functioning of the courts or spark new disputes and conflicts within the system.
