Judicial authority draft law to be voted on next Wednesday

CAIRO – 20 April 2017: Controversial judicial authority draft law which grants the president authority to appoint judicial posts will be voted on in the Parliament next Wednesday, according to the deputy of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Parliament, Nabil al-Gamal.

Ali Abdel Aal, speaker of the House of Representatives affirmed to the Judges Club that the law will not pass unless it is approved by Council of State.

On 18 April, Ali Abdel Aal said that he respects the State Council’s opinion that deemed the law as unconstitutional and that the committee will discuss all proposals and suggestions.

In March, the Legislative Committee of the House of Representatives approved the draft law sent it to the State Council; however the State Council’s sent its final report to the Parliament in which it rejected it as it is considered a violation in Egypt’s judicial system.

The law allows the executive authority to appoint the heads of main courts and judicial institutions in return the draft was largely rejected by judges and some members of parliament.