Article 22 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 22 من نظام القضاء
The commercial court and the labor court consist of specialized circuits, each made up of one or more judges as the Supreme Judicial Council determines.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تؤلف المحكمة التجارية والمحكمة العمالية من دوائر متخصصة، وتكون كل دائرة من قاضٍ فرد أو أكثر، وفق ما يحدده المجلس الأعلى للقضاء .
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 22 explained in plain English
This article regulates the composition of two first-instance courts together: the commercial court and the labor court. It lays down two provisions for them:
- Specialized circuits: each of the two courts consists of specialized circuits. The text here makes specialized circuits the basis of the court's makeup, and the article does not specify the types of these specializations.
- Composition of a circuit: each circuit is made up of one or more judges, as the Supreme Judicial Council determines.
This differs from Article 21 on the personal status court, which consists of one or more circuits and "may" include specialized circuits as needed. The commercial and labor courts, under this article, have specialized circuits.
Article 23 deals with the governorates and centers where no specialized courts have been established. Specialized commercial and labor circuits (and criminal and personal status circuits) may be established in the general courts located there when need arises, and these circuits have the jurisdiction of the specialized courts. The absence of a commercial or labor court in a given town therefore does not necessarily mean there is no circuit hearing that kind of case.
The article does not say which cases each court has jurisdiction over, as that is a matter for the procedural laws and the special laws. Anyone with a commercial dispute should consult a lawyer specialized in commercial cases, and anyone with a labor dispute should consult a lawyer specialized in labor 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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 22 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
How many judges sit in a labor court circuit?
Each circuit in the labor court is made up of one or more judges, as the Supreme Judicial Council determines.
Is the commercial court divided into specialized circuits?
Yes. The article provides that the commercial court and the labor court consist of specialized circuits.
What if there is no commercial or labor court in my governorate?
Under Article 23, specialized commercial and labor circuits may be established in the general courts in the centers and governorates where no specialized courts have been established, when need arises.
More articles on Types of Courts and Circuits
- Article 9
The article sets the composition of the courts: the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and general, criminal, personal status, commercial and labor first-instance courts.
تتكون المحاكم مما يلي: 1 - المحكمة العليا . 2 - محاكم الاستئناف . 3 - محاكم الدرجة الأولى ، وهي : أ - المحاكم العامة . ب - المحاكم الجزائية . ج - محاكم الأحوال
- Article 16
The article sets the circuits of the appeal courts: civil, criminal, personal status, commercial and labor.
دوائر محاكم الاستئناف هي : 1 - الدوائر الحقوقية 2 - الدوائر الجزائية 3 - دوائر الأحوال الشخصية 4 - الدوائر التجارية 5 - الدوائر العمالية .
- Article 18
First-instance courts are established in the regions, governorates and centers as needed.
تنشأ محاكم الدرجة الأولى في المناطق والمحافظات والمراكز بحسب الحاجة.
- Article 19
The general courts in the regions are made up of specialized circuits, including enforcement circuits, non-contentious proofs circuits and circuits for traffic accident and violation claims, each with a single judge or three judges.
تؤلف المحاكم العامة في المناطق من دوائر متخصصة، يكون من بينها دوائر للتنفيذ وللإثباتات الإنهائية وما في حكمها - الخارجة عن اختصاصات المحاكم الأخرى وكتابات العدل
- Article 20
The criminal court has circuits for retribution and hudud, discretionary (ta'zir) cases, and juvenile cases. Each circuit has three judges, except cases the Supreme Judicial Council specifies, which a single judge hears.
تؤلف المحكمة الجزائية من دوائر متخصصة هي: أ - دوائر قضايا القصاص والحدود . ب - دوائر القضايا التعزيرية . ج - دوائر قضايا الأحداث . وتشكل كل دائرة من ثلاثة قضاة،
- Article 21
The personal status court consists of one or more circuits, each made up of one or more judges as the Supreme Judicial Council determines, and specialized circuits may be included.
تؤلف محكمة الأحوال الشخصية من دائرة أو أكثر، وتكوًن كل دائرة من قاضٍ فرد أو أكثر، وفق ما يحدده المجلس الأعلى للقضاء . ويجوز أن يكون من بينها دوائر متخصصة بحسب ا
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.