The council authorized the Ministry of Justice to make available buildings and other facilities for the new courts. The decision was taken at the council’s 19th session, presided over by Justice Minister Muhammad Al-Isa, who is also chairman of the council, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abdullah Al-Yahya, secretary-general of the council, said the council would announce the date of opening the courts when the facilities were ready for operation. The meeting also decided to make available a sufficient number of judges to the cassation court and the special criminal cassation court in Asir region as part of improving the professional efficiency of these courts.

Al-Yahya said the council also examined requests from some judges seeking transfers from the Justice Department to other departments and vice versa, in addition to applications for voluntary retirement of some others.