Article 137 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 137 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثامن: أوجه البطلان
This article of the Regulations interprets the "composition of the court" in Article 188 of the Law as the number of judges required to hear the case under Article 20 of the Judiciary Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بتشكيل المحكمة - الوارد في المادة (الثامنة والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام - العدد المعتبر من القضاة لسماع الدعوى المرفوعة بحسب ما نصت عليه المادة (العشرون) من نظام القضاء.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 137 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law is an interpretive article, falling within Chapter 8 on grounds of nullity, and clarifies the meaning of the phrase "composition of the court" in Article 188 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
- Meaning of the composition of the court: it is the number of judges required to hear the case brought.
- Reference for fixing the number: this number is fixed as provided in Article 20 of the Judiciary Law.
In simpler terms, when the Law in Article 188 speaks of the composition of the court, what is meant is that the case is heard by the correct number of judges prescribed for it in the Judiciary Law. This article itself does not state how many judges there are in each type of case, or what follows from a breach of the composition; it refers to Article 20 of the Judiciary Law for fixing the number.
This article is linked to Article 136, which regulates the case of lacking the majority needed to issue a judgment and assigning a judge to complete the circuit's quorum, as both relate to the number of judges hearing the case. It is followed by Article 138 on the judgment of not hearing a case for a fundamental defect that cannot be corrected. If you believe your case was heard by a circuit that was not fully composed, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases to assess your position.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 137 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is meant by the composition of the court in the Criminal Procedure Law?
It is the number of judges required to hear the case brought, as provided in Article 20 of the Judiciary Law.
Does this article fix the number of judges?
No. It refers to Article 20 of the Judiciary Law to fix it.
More articles on Criminal Judgments and Nullity of Procedures
- Article 127
This article of the Regulations requires that the report prepared on the court's judgment that an official paper, in whole or in part, is forged, under Article 178 of the Law, be included in the case record.
يضمن المحضر المعد في شأن حكم المحكمة بثبوت تزوير ورقة رسمية (كلها أو بعضها) - وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الثامنة والسبعون بعد المائة) من النظام - في ضبط الدعوى.
- Article 128
This article of the Regulations requires a judge who is barred from ruling because the judgment would run contrary to his knowledge to record that in the case record and inform his direct superior.
إذا امتنع على القاضي الحكم في قضية لتوجه الحكم فيها بما يخالف علمه؛ فعليه أن يدون ذلك في ضبط الدعوى ويخبر مرجعه المباشر بذلك لاتخاذ ما يلزم نظاماً.
- Article 129
This article of the Regulations regulates the court's deferring decision on the requests of the private-right claimant or the accused under Article 180 of the Law, how they are later heard, and their statement in the judgment.
1- إذا قررت المحكمة إرجاء الفصل في طلبات المدعي بالحق الخاص أو المتهم - استناداً إلى المادة (الثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام - فيضمَّن ذلك مع أسبابه في الحكم الص
- Article 130
This article of the Regulations sets the contents of the draft criminal judgment, the rules on a judge's absence and the accused's attendance at the reading of the judgment, determining the criminal description, and drafting the instrument.
1- يجب أن تحرر مسودة الحكم قبل النطق به، وأن تشتمل على رقم الدعوى، وتاريخها، ونص الحكم، وأسبابه، وأسماء القضاة الذين اشتركوا في إصداره، وتوقيعاتهم مؤرخاً. 2 - إ
- Article 131
This article of the Regulations defines the certified copy of the judgment, and sets how a final judgment is officially notified and the Bureau informed, while preserving the parties' right to know it is final.
1- الصورة المصدقة - المشار إليها في المادة (الثانية والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام - هي صورة الحكم المختوم عليها بخاتم التصديق المتضمن أن الصورة طبق الأصل، أو
- Article 135
This article of the Regulations clarifies that the criminal case in Article 186 of the Law is the public case, and sets when a copy of a previous judgment is certified and the form of the court's certificate of it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية الواردة في المادة (السادسة والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - تعد صورة الحكم التي يثبت بها الحكم السابق في الدعوى
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.