Jordan Times
Monday, June 4, 2007
Developing judiciary key to
justice, equality — King
AMMAN (Petra) — King Abdullah on Sunday stressed that developing the judiciary
is a top national priority and the key factor in entrenching principles of
justice and equality.
“We will not be able to advance Jordan and upgrade it economically, socially and
politically unless the judiciary is enhanced,” King Abdullah said during a
meeting with the Higher Judicial Council (HJC) at the Palace of Justice.
Stressing his full support and pride in the judiciary, the Monarch said: “There
is a lot to do in order to enhance the judiciary.
“Clear measures should be adopted to enhance the independence of the judiciary
in the next stage.”
He said a plan should be set to accelerate legal procedures and adopt clear
standards to select judges based on experience, competence and honesty.
During the meeting, HJC President Mohammad Raqqad talked about challenges facing
the judiciary in Jordan, calling for enhancing the independence of the
judiciary.
“Judges in general should be familiar with the English language, especially
since Jordan is a signatory to several international conventions and
agreements,” Raqqad said.
He added that the current economic environment in Jordan created a new type of
legal cases — “which necessitates the training and qualification of judges to
help them deal with such cases”.
The HJC president added that it’s important to dispatch top law students in the
country to internationally renowned universities.
In April, the HJC referred to the King its annual report, which included major
challenges facing the judiciary as well as future plans. Currently, there are
686 judges, including 32 female judges, in the country.
Ministry of Justice Secretary General Mohammad Ghazu said the ministry is
committed to implementing an ambitious strategy to develop the judiciary and
developing the skills of human resources.