ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II said Sunday that political, economic and social development is associated with the judiciary's overhaul, which is a priority for Jordan's future.

He told the president and members of the newly-formed Royal Committee for Developing the Judiciary and Enhancing the Rule of Law to lay out a comprehensive strategy to revamp and upgrade the judiciary through building on previous efforts and benefiting from them.

Commending the committee members as people with long judicial and legal experience, the King urged them to legislations, speed up litigation procedures and build the capacity of judicial staff.

"We look forward to seeing the result of your work in the next four months", he told the committee, headed by former prime minister Zeid Rifai.

In a letter designating Rifai to head the committee last week, His Majesty urged that a comprehensive strategy be drawn up to pursue the modernisation and development process to upgrade the performance of the judicial authority, including providing the proper resources for judges, elevating their capabilities, developing standards of meritocracy and competency in their appointments, transfers and promotions and improving their conditions.

The royal letter also stressed the importance of creating a modern and institutionalised judiciary and support agencies, devising "qualitative" work methods, updating measures and legislation to improve litigation and enforce rulings across all involved bodies, as well as empowering and advancing judicial oversight, inspection and training, while benefiting from the best international practices.

During today's meeting, held at the Husseiniyeh Palace, Rifai said the royal letter reflected the King's future vision, pledging to draw up a detailed strategy to revamp the judicial system and enhance the rule of law, adding that the panel will examine all legislations and measures related to the judiciary with the aim of updating them.

The committee, he said, will send the results of its work to the King, including the recommendations, policies, executive programmes and proposed legislations within a period of four months.

The judicial reform panel was formed after the publication of the King's Sixth Discussion Paper, entitled "Rule of Law and Civil State", which underlined the judiciary's reform.