Article 6 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 6 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
Article 6 requires a clerk to attend with the judge at hearings and in all case procedures to draft the record and sign it with him, and lets the judge do so himself if the clerk cannot attend.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب أن يحضر مع القاضي في الجلسات وفي جميـع إجراءات الدعوى كاتب يحرر محضر الجلسة ويوقعه مع القاضي، وإذا تعذرحضور الكاتب فللقاضي تولي الإجراء وتحرير المحضر.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article regulates how what happens at hearings and in case procedures is documented, which is important because the record is the written account of what was said and done in the case.
The rule: a clerk must attend with the judge at:
- Hearings.
- All case procedures.
The clerk drafts the hearing record, then signs it with the judge. Under this rule, the record is not complete with the signature of only one of them.
The exception: if the clerk cannot attend, the judge may carry out the procedure himself and draft the record. This ensures that the case is not held up by the clerk's absence.
The importance of this article to the litigant is that what is entered in the record is the written basis for the course of the case, so it helps for a party to take care that his statements and requests are clear during the hearing so that they are recorded as he said them.
This article is connected to the general rule in Article 5 on the voidness of a procedure if the Law provides for its voidness or it is tainted by a defect that defeated its purpose. Article 6 itself does not specify the form of the record or its detailed contents.
For any inquiry about the records of a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.
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 6 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Who writes the hearing record in court?
A clerk who attends with the judge at hearings and in all case procedures drafts it, and signs it with the judge.
What happens if the clerk does not attend the hearing?
If the clerk cannot attend, the judge may carry out the procedure and draft the record himself.
Does the judge sign the hearing record?
Yes. The clerk signs the record with the judge.
More articles on Hearing 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 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 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.
- Article 59
Someone who attends thirty minutes before the set end of the hearing is not considered absent if the hearing has not convened, and someone who attends while the hearing is still in session is considered present.
في تطبيق الأحكام السابقة، لا يعد غائبًا- والجلسة لم تنعقد- من حضر قبل الموعد المحدد لانتهاء الجلسة بثلاثين دقيقة، على أنه إذا حضر والجلسة لا زالت منعقدة فيعد حا
- Article 61
The number of judges required by law must attend the pleading hearings; if short, the court president assigns someone to complete it, and if that is not possible the president of the Supreme Judicial Council does.
يجب أن يحضر جلسات المرافعة في القضية العدد اللازم نظامًا من القضاة، فإن لم يتوافر العدد اللازم فيكلف رئيس المحكمة أحد قضاتها لإكمال النصاب، فإن تعذر ذلك فيكلف ر
- Article 62
The recording clerk prepares for each day a list of the claims scheduled, ordered by their hearing time, and it is announced, after being shown to the judge, on the board provided for it before the day of the hearings.
على كاتب الضبط أن يعد لكل يوم قائمة بالدعاوى التي تعرض فيه مرتبة حسب الوقت المعين لنظرها، وبعد عرض القائمة على القاضي تعلن في اللوحة المعدة لذلك قبل يوم الجلسات
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.