UNDP United Nations Development Programme برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي
Programme on Governance in the Arab Region برنامج إدارة الحكم في الدول العربية POGAR
   Publications: Judiciary

Arab Judicial Structures
A Study Presented To The United Nations Development Program
by Nathan J. Brown

  Appointing/ Assigning/ Evaluation of Judges
Algeria
  • There is direct role of the executive in these processes
Egypt
  • Most of the appointments and assignments are made by the Supreme Judicial Council
  • Judicial inspection and discipline are supervised by the Ministry of Justice
Jordan
  • These functions are largely judicial processed by the High Judicial Council; the Council has not yet achieved total independence from the Ministry of Justice
Kuwait
  • Judicial council with limited executive branch involvement
  • Non-Kuwaiti judges are brought on contracts that are originated and administered by the Ministry of Justice
Lebanon
  • Appointments and promotions are made by the Ministry of Justice and approved by the Supreme Judicial Council
Morocco
  • The Supreme Judicial Council is composed of members from both the judicial and executive branches
  • Supervision and inspection are the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice
Palestine/ Palestinian National Authority
  • A presidential-appointed Supreme Judicial Council oversees the appointments, assignments, and promotions
  • The Council is mostly judicial, but its mechanisms, internal management, and legal basis are still being defined
Saudi Arabia
  • The judiciary is governed by a Supreme Judicial Council
  • Members of the Council are largely appointed by a royal order; however, the Council has been an autonomous organization in practice
Sudan
  • The president of the republic along with the Supreme Judicial Council are responsible for judicial appointments
  • The Council’s composition is a mix of members from the judicial and the executive branches as well as public figures
  • The evaluation and administration of the judiciary falls to the chief justice, sometimes working with the Ministry of Justice
Syria
  • The constitution provides for the Supreme Judicial Council
  • The Council’s administration and functions are performed with the participation of the executive branch
Tunisia
  • Judicial matters are overseen by the Supreme Judicial Council
  • The Council is composed of members from both the judicial and executive branches
United Arab Emirates
  • Appointments of federal judges are performed by the UAE president, nominated by the minister of justice
  • Judicial council has extensive participation from executive
  • Judges who are citizens of the UAE are appointed for life, unless proven to be incapable or unfit Non UAE citizens are appointed on contract bases
  • Charges against judges are heard by an exclusively judicial body
Yemen
  • The Supreme Judicial Council exercises significant authority over the judiciary, though senior judicial positions are appointed by the president
  • Members of the Council come from both the judicial and executive branches
  • Judicial inspection is performed by the Ministry of Justice, and disciplinary issues by the Supreme Judicial Council
 

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