Article 54 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 54 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الرابع: حضور الخصوم وغيابهم والتوكيل في الخصومة
The article bars the judge, members of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority and court staff from acting as agents for litigants, even before another court, except for their spouses, ascendants, descendants and those under their guardianship.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز للقاضي ولا لعضو هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام ولا لأحد من العاملين في المحاكم أن يكون وكيلًا عن الخصوم في الدعوى ولو كانت مقامة أمام محكمة غير المحكمة التابع لها، ولكن يجوز لهم ذلك عن أزواجهم وأصولهم وفروعهم ومن كان تحت ولايتهم شرعًا.
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 54 explained in plain English
This article places a restriction on who may be an agent in litigation, to preserve the impartiality of the judiciary and confidence in it, and so that office is not used to influence cases.
Those barred from acting as agents for litigants:
- The judge.
- A member of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority.
- Anyone working in the courts.
The bar includes claims before a court other than the one the person belongs to; it is not enough that the case is in another court.
The exception: these persons may be agents for:
- Their spouses.
- Their ascendants, such as father, mother and grandfather.
- Their descendants, such as son and daughter.
- Anyone under their guardianship under Sharia.
This bar applies even if the claim is before a court the person does not belong to, as the text expressly states. After this article comes Article 55, which deals with the claimant's absence from the hearings of the claim.
Anyone with a question about the validity of someone's agency in his case can consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
Khaled works as an employee at a court, and his friend asked him to plead for him as agent in a case before a court in another city. Under this article Khaled may not do so. But he may be an agent for his father, his wife or his son.
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 54 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
May a court employee be an agent in a case?
Court staff may not be agents for litigants, even if the claim is before a court other than the one they belong to.
May a judge plead for his wife or father?
Yes. A judge, a member of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority and court staff may act as agents for their spouses, ascendants, descendants and those under their guardianship under Sharia.
More articles on Attendance and Absence of Parties
- Article 48
If the court has set a hearing for two litigants and they appear at a time other than the one set and ask for their dispute to be heard, the court must grant their request if possible.
إذا عينت المحكمة جلسة لشخصين متداعيين، ثم حضرا في غير الوقت المعين وطلبا النظر في خصومتهما، فعليها أن تجيب هذا الطلب إن أمكن.
- Article 49
Litigants attend on the day the case is heard in person or through a representative, and a representative who is an agent must be someone with the right to act as an agent under the law.
في اليوم المعين لنظر الدعوى يحضر الخصوم بأنفسهم أو مَنْ ينوب عنهم، فإذا كان النائب وكيلًا تعين كونه ممن له حق التوكل حسب النظام.
- Article 50
The article requires the agent to declare his attendance on behalf of his principal and file a certified copy of his power of attorney, allows proving the authorization at the hearing, and applies the filing duty to guardians, legal guardians and trustees.
يجب على الوكيل أن يقرر حضوره عن موكله، وأن يودع صورة مصدقة من وثيقة وكالته لدى الكاتب المختص. وللمحكمة أن ترخص للوكيل عند الضرورة بإيداع صورة الوثيقة في موعد تح
- Article 51
What an agent states in his principal's presence counts as the principal's own admission unless he denies it at the hearing, and in the principal's absence the agent has no power over serious acts such as admission, settlement and waiver without special authorization.
كل ما يقرره الوكيل في حضور الموكِّل يكون بمثابة ما يقرره الموكِّل نفسه، إلا إذا نفاه أثناء نظر القضية في الجلسة نفسها. وإذا لم يحضر الموكِّل فلا يصح من الوكيل ا
- Article 52
An agent's withdrawal or dismissal without the court's approval does not stop the proceedings, unless the principal informs his opponent of appointing another agent or of his intention to pursue the claim himself.
لا يحول اعتزال الوكيل أو عزلـه بغير موافقة المحكمة دون سير الإجراءات، إلا إذا أبلغ الموكِّل خصمه بتعيين وكيل آخر بدلًا من المعتزل أو المعزول، أو بعزمه على مباشر
- Article 53
If it appears to the court that the agent asks for extensions too often on the pretext of consulting his principal in order to stall, it may require the principal himself or another agent.
إذا ظهر للمحكمة من أحد الوكلاء كثرة الاستمهالات بحجة سؤال موكله بقصد المماطلة، فلها حق طلب الموكل بنفسه لإتمام المرافعة أو توكيل وكيل آخر.
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.