Our legal system and our courts are overloaded these days. And many of the cases on their calendars — divorce, alimony and child custody — could be solved without turning to the legal system. These cases, however, represent a majority of the total number of cases before the courts, especially the increased number of divorces. Divorce in the Kingdom has reached levels never seen before.
In the past, many of these types of cases were settled amicably by submitting them to individuals known for their ability, honesty and integrity. This was a much better and usually more humane way of solving such matters than bringing them before judges and into courts. Mosques or the houses of the individuals acceptable to both parties were the appropriate places for gathering those involved. Very likely, a solution or some kind of workable possibility was forthcoming in a short time. I wonder whether, in cases of a divorced woman asking for her lawful alimony or a mother seeking custody of her child, there are not still those in our society who have the guts to tell the truth to whomever of the parties is in the wrong.
The old days are over. Elders and wise men in districts and towns used to have full control over litigants in terms of solving social problems or civil conflicts. If you visit the courts, you will discover all sorts of cases and disputes awaiting legal solutions and what should strike you is that most of them are of a relatively simple nature. Delays in the process of delivering judgments are due to the haste of the parties involved which makes it difficult for the judges to arrive at verdicts without full attention to all the relevant facts. Would it not be possible to revive the old role of elders and wise men in society in resolving social and civil disputes?
I am sure, if that were done, citizens would respect and appreciate the solutions just as they used to in the old days we look so fondly back upon.
Our legal system and our courts are overloaded these days. And many of the cases on their calendars — divorce, alimony and child custody — could be solved without turning to the legal system. These cases, however, represent a majority of the total number of cases before the courts, especially the increased number of divorces. Divorce in the Kingdom has reached levels never seen before.
In the past, many of these types of cases were settled amicably by submitting them to individuals known for their ability, honesty and integrity. This was a much better and usually more humane way of solving such matters than bringing them before judges and into courts. Mosques or the houses of the individuals acceptable to both parties were the appropriate places for gathering those involved. Very likely, a solution or some kind of workable possibility was forthcoming in a short time. I wonder whether, in cases of a divorced woman asking for her lawful alimony or a mother seeking custody of her child, there are not still those in our society who have the guts to tell the truth to whomever of the parties is in the wrong.
The old days are over. Elders and wise men in districts and towns used to have full control over litigants in terms of solving social problems or civil conflicts. If you visit the courts, you will discover all sorts of cases and disputes awaiting legal solutions and what should strike you is that most of them are of a relatively simple nature. Delays in the process of delivering judgments are due to the haste of the parties involved which makes it difficult for the judges to arrive at verdicts without full attention to all the relevant facts. Would it not be possible to revive the old role of elders and wise men in society in resolving social and civil disputes?
I am sure, if that were done, citizens would respect and appreciate the solutions just as they used to in the old days we look so fondly back upon.