Egypt's judicial authority: a pillar of good governance

CAIRO – 26 September 2023: In his 9-year tenure as Egypt's President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has consistently shown profound respect and appreciation for Egypt's judiciary and its judges. The President has been unwavering in his commitment to uphold the essence of justice, viewing it as a fundamental pillar of good governance within the Egyptian state.

Celebrating Justice

Recognizing the importance of the judiciary, October 1 of every year has been designated as a day of celebration of justice. Furthermore, medals of the Republic are granted to the martyrs of justice and the leaders of judicial bodies. Special commendations are extended to young, distinguished judges for their exceptional service and performance.

Empowering Young Judges

Throughout his leadership, President El-Sisi has displayed considerable interest in empowering the youth within the judiciary. He has emphasized the importance of continuous training and development of young judges, reinforcing the esteemed stature of the Egyptian judicial system.

Every year, on Egyptian Judiciary Day, outstanding young judges are honored, and new opportunities for professional development and leadership roles are announced.

This initiative ensures that even as ideas evolve, they remain anchored in the principles of justice, benefiting from the wisdom and experience of senior judiciary members.

Empowering Women in the Judiciary

In a significant move, President El-Sisi directed the empowerment of women to exercise their constitutional right to occupy positions within the State Council and the Public Prosecution. Before this directive, female representation in the judiciary was limited to the Administrative Prosecution and State Lawsuits authorities. With this new guidance, President El-Sisi ensured that women are represented across all judicial bodies, acknowledging their deserved status and role.

The Supreme Council for Judicial Bodies

The year 2019 witnessed the establishment of the Supreme Council for Judicial Bodies, chaired by the President. The council's composition includes the heads of the Supreme Constitutional Court, the State Council, the State Lawsuits Authority, the Military Judiciary, the Administrative Prosecution, the Cairo Court of Appeal, and the Attorney General.

This has significantly contributed to harmonizing the justice system, promoting collaboration amongst all judicial entities. This cohesion ensures the protection of rights and freedoms, delivers justice to rights holders, and enhances the competency of young judges. Importantly, the Supreme Council ensures fairness in appointments across judicial bodies, preventing repetitiveness and providing opportunities for deserving candidates.

Ensuring Social Justice

An essential aspect of the Supreme Council's work is to avoid redundancy in appointing names to positions across judicial bodies. This practice fosters social justice by offering opportunities to a diverse group of professionals.

Egypt, with its rich history and diverse cultural fabric, considers its judiciary as one of the main backbones of the state. The recent measures reflect the country's continuous efforts to modernize its institutions and uphold the principles of justice, equality, and good governance.