Article 138 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 138 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب التاسع: إجراءات الإثبات
The article provides that the expert's opinion does not bind the court, but the court draws guidance from it in its judgment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
رأي الخبير لا يقيد المحكمة ولكنها تستأنس به.
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 138 explained in plain English
This article is short but very important for anyone whose case involves an expert: the expert's opinion does not bind the court, but the court draws guidance from it.
This means:
- It does not bind the court: The court is not obliged to adopt the expert's opinion. The judge is the one who decides the judgment, and the expert provides a technical opinion to assist him.
- The court draws guidance from it: The expert's opinion has value, since the court uses it and is guided by it in forming its conviction, but it does not replace the court's judgment.
This provision is consistent with Article 137, under which the court may call the expert to discuss his report, send it back to him to correct any error or deficiency it identified, or assign that to one or more other experts. The court treats the report as a tool that serves it and is subject to its assessment.
What does this mean for the parties?
- If the expert's report comes out in your favor, that does not mean the judgment will necessarily be in your favor.
- If it comes out against you, that does not mean the case is lost, because the court is not bound by it.
It therefore remains important for a party to present whatever remarks and evidence he has on the report. The text does not say how the court must explain not adopting a report, so we do not add to it what it does not contain. A person who wishes to assess the effect of an expert's report on his case may consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
In a compensation claim in Riyadh, an expert estimated the value of the damage to a car at a certain amount. The defendant discussed the report and submitted documents indicating that some of the damage predated the accident. Here the court is not bound by the expert's estimate; it draws guidance from it alongside what both parties submitted in forming its conviction.
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 138 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Is the judge bound by the expert's report?
No. The expert's opinion does not bind the court, but the court draws guidance from it.
If the expert's report is against me, have I lost the case?
That does not necessarily mean the case is lost, because the court is not bound by the expert's opinion; it only draws guidance from it.
More articles on Evidence Procedures
- Article 23
The article makes Arabic the official language of the courts, requires hearing non-Arabic speakers through an interpreter, and requires an approved translation from a licensed office for foreign-language papers.
اللغة العربية هي اللغة الرسمية للمحاكم؛ وتسمع المحكمة أقوال الخصوم والشهود ونحوهم من غير الناطقين باللغة العربية عن طريق مترجم، وتقدم ترجمة معتمدة من مكتب مرخص
- Article 67
If a defendant refuses to answer, or answers with something unrelated to the claim, the judge repeats the request for a proper answer three times in the same session; if the defendant persists, he treats them as refusing to answer after a warning.
إذا امتنع المدعى عليه عن الجواب كليًّا، أو أجاب بجواب غير ملاق للدعوى؛ كرر عليه القاضي طلب الجواب الصحيح ثلاثًا في الجلسة نفسها، فإذا أصر على ذلك عدّه ناكلًا بع
- Article 74
The presiding judge puts the questions to the parties, witnesses and others; members and parties may ask him to put their questions, and he may delegate this to a member.
رئيس الجلسة هو الذي يتولى توجيه الأسئلة إلى الخصوم والشهود وغيرهم ممن له صلة بالدعوى، ولأعضاء الدائرة المشتركين معه في الجلسة والخصوم أن يطلبوا منه توجيه ما يري
- Article 101
The article requires that facts to be proved during pleadings be related to the case, material to it, and admissible.
يجب أن تكون الوقائع المراد إثباتها أثناء المرافعة متعلقة بالدعوى منتجة فيها جائزًا قبولها.
- Article 102
If a party's evidence is in a place outside the court's jurisdiction, the court must delegate the judge of that place to hear and vet the evidence.
إذا كانت بينة أحد الخصوم في مكان خارج عن نطاق اختصاص المحكمة، فعليها أن تستخلف القاضي الذي يقع ذلك المكان في نطاق اختصاصه لسماع تلك البينة وتعديلها.
- Article 103
The court may withdraw from evidentiary procedures it ordered, provided it states the reasons in the record, and may decline to adopt a procedure's result, provided it states the reasons in its judgment.
للمحكمة أن تعدل عما أمرت به من إجراءات الإثبات، بشرط أن تبين أسباب العدول في الضبط. ويجوز لها كذلك ألا تأخذ بنتيجة الإجراء، بشرط أن تبين أسباب ذلك في حكمها.
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.