Courts asked to quicken trial process

ABHA: The Supreme Judicial Council has recommended quick disposal of prisoners’ cases.
The council sent a circular to all courts, with particular emphasis on judicial department heads. The circular stipulates that the head of the judicial department can only be given a 15-day leave, either for holidays or new assignments. Before they go on leave or move, they should notify the head of the court in writing about current status of prisoner cases with the department.
If the judge is in an individual court, he should notify the president of the court of appeals in the province, because he has the authority to supervise the work of first grade court presidents, according to the seventh rule of the specialties and authorities of court presidents and their assistants.
The circular stressed the importance of setting a date for the case immediately after registering it in the court, and moving on with the procedures even if a party doesn’t attend. The case can only be adjourned after setting a date and stating reasons behind the adjournment, in addition to registering the details of the case.
The council stressed the fact that courts should work according to Article 151 of the criminal procedure system, which stipulates that the plaintiff’s waiving of his private rights doesn’t affect the public criminal case, and Article 124 of the executive list of the Criminal Procedure Law, which stipulates that if the plaintiff didn’t demand his personal rights in the court that looks into the criminal case, or if he demands it and doesn’t show up, the court can continue to look into the case and issue a ruling.
Courts should also work according to Article 123 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which stipulates that if the defendant has been referred to court, he should be released if he was detained, and arrested if his parole was in the specialty of the court he was referred to. If he was convicted outside the specialty of the court, the court that issued the ruling of non-specialty will be the one to look into the release or arrest request, until the case is referred to the specialized court. The public prosecutor has the right to object to the acquittal.
The council also called on judicial department heads to work according to Article 213 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which stipulates that the detainee can be released if he was acquitted or sentenced to a punishment that doesn’t call for imprisonment, or if the detainee completed his punishment while on trial.
The council also called for working according to Article 152 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which stipulates that the court should notify detainees’ directorates in writing, about the ruling that has been issued in cases stipulated in Article 213 of the Acquittal Law.