Article 146 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 146 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: النقض وإعادة النظر
This article of the Regulations provides that the Supreme Court's hearing of matters attached to judgments of death, stoning, amputation or retribution for life or less is by circuits of five judges.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون نظر المحكمة العليا فيما يلحق بالأحكام الصادرة بالقتل، أو الرجم، أو القطع، أو القصاص في النفس أو فيما دونها؛ من خلال دوائر تؤلف كل منها من خمسة قضاة.
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 146 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law concerns a category of extremely serious criminal judgments, and requires an enlarged composition for them in the Supreme Court.
- Judgments covered: judgments issued for:
- Death.
- Stoning.
- Amputation.
- Retribution for life or for less than life.
- The composition required: the Supreme Court hears what is attached to these judgments through circuits each composed of five judges.
This means that these judgments, because of the seriousness of their effects, are heard in the Supreme Court only by a circuit of five judges. The phrase "what is attached to the judgments" covers what relates to these judgments before the Supreme Court. The article does not state the hearing procedures or whether unanimity is required, and does not mention other judgments.
The article is linked to Article 145, which provides that affirming or reversing judgments is for the competent circuit of the Supreme Court, unanimously or by majority, and to Article 147, which provides that if these judgments are reversed, decided anew and then brought to the Supreme Court, they are heard by the circuit that previously heard them. If your case is of this kind, it is important to have the help of a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
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 146 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
How many judges hear retribution judgments in the Supreme Court?
They are heard by circuits each composed of five judges.
Which judgments are heard by five-judge circuits?
Judgments issued for death, stoning, amputation, or retribution for life or for less than life.
More articles on Objecting to Criminal Judgments
- Article 138
This article of the Regulations provides that a judgment of not hearing the case for a fundamental defect that cannot be corrected is recorded and an objectionable instrument issued, and the corrected case is heard by the same circuit.
1- يدون في ضبط الدعوى الحكمُ الصادر - وفقا للمادة (الحادية والتسعين بعد المائة) من النظام- بعدم سماع الدعوى التي وُجِد فيها عيب جوهري لا يمكن تصحيحه، ويصدر به ص
- Article 139
This article of the Regulations requires recording that the parties were informed of their right to object, its period and the effect of missing it, and gives the public prosecutor and the private-right claimant the right to object to an unfixed discretionary penalty.
1- يدون في ضبط الدعوى إعلام أطراف الدعوى بحقهم في الاعتراض على الحكم، والمدة المحددة لتقديمه، وأن الحكم سيكتسب لصفة القطعية بمضي تلك المدة دون تقديم مذكرة الاعت
- Article 140
This article of the Regulations provides that an objector's withdrawal of his objection neither reduces the objection period nor loses his right to it unless that period passes.
ليس لعدول المعترض على الحكم عن اعتراضه أثر في نقص المدة المحددة لتقديم الاعتراض ولا يسقط حقه فيه ما لم تنقض تلك المدة.
- Article 141
This article of the Regulations explains the effect of not submitting the objection within its period: for a judgment not subject to mandatory review the right to appeal or review is lost and it becomes final, and for one subject to mandatory review the right to submit the memorandum is lost.
1- إذا كان الحكم غير واجب التدقيق، ولم يقدم المعترض اعتراضه خلال المدة المحددة للاعتراض سقط حقه في طلب الاستئناف، أو التدقيق، واكتسب الحكم صفة القطعية، وعلى الد
- Article 142
This article of the Regulations requires the objection to be submitted by a memorandum under paragraph 1 of Article 195 of the Law, lodged with the court that issued the judgment within the period, and allows more than one memorandum on conditions.
1- لا يقبل الاعتراض على الحكم إلا بمذكرة مشتملة على ما نصت عليه الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والتسعين بعد المائة) من النظام، وللمدعي العام بعثها بكتاب رسمي، وت
- Article 143
This article of the Regulations requires the circuit that issued the challenged judgment to record in the case record that it has seen the objection memorandum.
تدون الدائرة التي أصدرت الحكم المعترض عليه ما يفيد اطلاعها على المذكرة الاعتراضية في ضبط 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.