Parliament approves judicial authority draft law

Despite an earlier rejection by the country's State Council last month, the Egyptian parliament's constitutional and legislative committee approved by majority vote on Monday a new judicial authority draft law, giving the president the right to appoint the heads of the country's judiciary councils.

The draft law, presented in December 2016, mandates that the president of the republic would be empowered to pick from three candidates nominated by each judicial council.

The law was rejected by the State Council In December 2016 before its ammended version was passed by the parliamentary committe on Monday's session.

The judicial councils mentioned in the law are the state lawsuits authority, administrative prosecution, the court of cassation and the State Council.

In response to the committee's decision, Egypt's Judges Club announced in a statement its rejection of the law, calling on its branch heads to convene next Wednesday to discuss the matter.

The club described the law as a major violation of the Egyptian judicial system, saying it completely ignores seniority among judges, on the basis of which the heads of judicial council are currently appointed

Source: Ahram online