DAMMAM, 1 April — The judicial system in the Kingdom is expected to undergo radical changes by the middle of this year with the introduction of new court proceedings and regulations.
Speaking to Arab News, Justice Minister Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Sheikh said the new regulations, ratified by the Council of Ministers last August, would be implemented in July.
The new regulations, which will replace the court proceedings in force since 1990, define the jurisdiction of courts regarding the nature and location of litigation.
They will safeguard the rights of contending parties including the right to appoint a lawyer. They also set the conditions for hearing procedures, defense, insertion and intervention, counter petitions and terms for stopping arguments. The regulations stipulate the exemption of a judge from handling certain cases, rules regarding witnesses, oaths, interrogation and confession.
The regulations also deal with the method of issuing a verdict and provisions for appeal. The new system clearly defines methods of summary trial, registration of endowment, confirmation of death and inheritance.
The commissions for settlement of bank disputes, commercial documents and labor problems will be exempted from the jurisdiction of the courts.
The Shoura Council is currently discussing regulations pertaining to lawyers. The regulations comprising 45 articles will be complementary to the court proceedings regulations. These regulations spell out the conditions that an attorney should fulfill before taking up a case. The regulations also define an attorney’s duties and responsibilities. The code of conduct for attorneys will also be set out in the new regulations. Lawyers who fail to fulfill their duties will face penal action.
The new regulations will also allow legal practice by non-Saudi lawyers. Lawyers’ firms will be allowed to set up and former judges will be eligible to work as attorneys under the new regulations.
