Article 189 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 189 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الحادي عشر: طرق الاعتراض على الأحكام
The article allows the circuit that issued the judgment to reconsider it in light of the objection memorandum, then confirm it and refer it for appeal, or amend it and notify the parties.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
بعد اطلاع الدائرة التي أصدرت الحكم المعترض عليه على مذكرة الاعتراض، يجوز لها أن تعيد النظر في الحكم من ناحية الوجوه التي بُنِيَ عليها الاعتراض من غير مرافعة، ما لم يظهر مقتضٍ لها. وعليها أن تؤكد حكمها أو تعدِّلـه حسب ما يظهر لها، فإذا أكدت حكمها رفعته مع صورة ضبط القضية ومذكرة الاعتراض وجميع الأوراق إلى محكمة الاستئناف. أما إن عدَّلته فيبلغ الحكم المعدَّل للخصوم، وتسري عليه في هذه الحالة الإجراءات المعتادة.
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 189 explained in plain English
This article explains the next step after the objection memorandum is lodged and referred to the circuit that issued the judgment under Article 188. Before the case reaches the Court of Appeal, the circuit itself is given a chance to review its judgment.
Reconsideration: After reviewing the objection memorandum, the circuit may reconsider the judgment only in respect of the grounds on which the objection is based, and it does so without pleadings, unless something appears that calls for pleadings.
Outcome of the review: The circuit must choose one of two courses, depending on what it finds:
- Confirm the judgment: it then refers it, together with a copy of the case minutes, the objection memorandum and all the papers, to the Court of Appeal.
- Amend the judgment: the amended judgment is then notified to the parties, and the usual procedures apply to it.
The article does not spell out these "usual procedures" in its text. If the confirmed judgment is referred, the Court of Appeal examines it under Article 190, which allows it to set a hearing if it sees fit to hear it with pleadings.
This stage makes the objection memorandum an influential document, because the circuit reviews the judgment within the limits of the grounds stated in it. Someone who needs to assess their position can consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
Noura filed an objection memorandum against a judgment in a financial dispute with a tenant, explaining that the court had not counted a payment she made. The circuit reviewed the memorandum and found what she said to be correct, so it amended the judgment, and the amended judgment was notified to both parties. Had it considered its judgment correct, it would have confirmed it and referred it with the papers to the Court of Appeal.
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 189 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can the judge amend his own judgment after an objection?
Yes. The circuit that issued the judgment may reconsider it in light of the grounds of objection, and then confirm or amend it depending on what it finds.
Does the circuit hold a hearing when it reconsiders?
As a rule it reconsiders without pleadings, unless something appears that calls for pleadings.
What happens if the circuit confirms its judgment?
It refers the judgment, together with a copy of the case minutes, the objection memorandum and all the papers, to the Court of Appeal.
More articles on Appeal, Cassation and Petition for Reconsideration
- Article 95
A judge's work or judgment is void in the situations of bar in Article 94 even if done by agreement of the parties; if the voidness occurs in an affirmed judgment, a party may ask the Supreme Court to set it aside.
يقع باطلًا عمل القاضي أو قضاؤه في الأحوال المتقدمة في المادة (الرابعة والتسعين) من هذا النظام ولو تم باتفاق الخصوم. وإن وقع هذا البطلان في حكم مؤيد جاز للخصم أن
- Article 165
The article requires the court, after pronouncing the judgment, to inform the litigants of the means of objection and their time limits, and to inform guardians, custodians, endowment administrators and representatives of government bodies that the judgment must be appealed or reviewed.
يجب على المحكمة - بعد النطق بالحكم - إفهام الخصوم بطرق الاعتراض المقررة ومواعيدها. كما يجب عليها إفهام الأولياء والأوصياء والنظار وممثلي الأجهزة الحكومية ونحوهم
- Article 170
The article allows the court to which an objection is submitted to order a stay of provisional enforcement if it considers that the grounds of the objection may lead to the judgment being quashed and serious harm is feared from enforcement.
يجوز للمحكمة المرفوع إليها الاعتراض - متى رأت أن أسباب الاعتراض على الحكم قد تقضي بنقضه - أن تأمر بوقف التنفيذ المعجل إذا كان يخشى منه وقوع ضرر جسيم.
- Article 172
The article distinguishes between a refusal to correct, which is objected to together with the judgment itself, and a correction decision, which may be objected to independently.
إذا رفضت المحكمة التصحيح فيكون الاعتراض على ذلك مع الاعتراض على الحكم نفسه. أما القرار الذي يصدر بالتصحيح فيجوز الاعتراض عليه على استقلال بطرق الاعتراض الجائزة.
- Article 176
The article specifies three means of objection to judgments: appeal, cassation and petition for reconsideration.
طرق الاعتراض على الأحكام هي الاستئناف، والنقض، والتماس إعادة النظر.
- Article 177
The article limits the right to object to a judgment to the party against whom it was given or one who was not awarded all his claims, unless the Law provides otherwise.
لا يجوز أن يعترض على الحكم إلا المحكوم عليه، أو من لم يقض له بكل طلباته، ما لم ينص النظام على غير ذلك.
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.