Article 31 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 31 من نظام القضاء
The article sets the conditions for becoming a judge: Saudi nationality by origin, good conduct, full legal capacity, a Sharia college degree or equivalent with an exam, a minimum age, and no disqualifying conviction or disciplinary dismissal.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يشترط فيمن يولى القضاء:
أ - أن يكون سعودي الجنسية بالأصل.
ب - أن يكون حسن السيرة والسلوك.
ج - أن يكون متمتعًا بالأهلية الكاملة للقضاء بحسب ما نص عليه شرعا.
د - أن يكون حاصلًا على شهادة إحدى كليات الشريعة بالمملكة أو شهادة أخرى معادلة لها، بشرط أن ينجح في الحالة الأخيرة في امتحان خاص يعده المجلس الأعلى للقضاء .
هـ - ألاّ تقل سنه عن أربعين سنة (إذا كان تعيينه في درجة قاضي استئناف) وعن اثنتين وعشرين سنة (إذا كان تعيينه في إحدى درجات السلك القضائي الأخرى).
و - ألاّ يكون محكومًا عليه بجريمة مخلة بالدين أو الشرف، أو صدر في حقه قرار تأديبي بالفصل من وظيفة عامة، ولو كان قد رُدَّ إليه اعتباره.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article sets out the conditions that must be met by a person appointed to the judiciary, which are six:
- Nationality: he must be a Saudi national by origin.
- Conduct: he must be of good character and conduct.
- Capacity: he must enjoy full capacity for the judiciary as provided under Sharia.
- Qualification: he must hold a degree from one of the Sharia colleges in the Kingdom, or another equivalent degree; in the latter case he must pass a special examination prepared by the Supreme Judicial Council.
- Age: he must be at least 40 years old if he is appointed to the grade of appeal judge, and at least 22 years old if he is appointed to any of the other grades of the judicial corps.
- Record: he must not have been convicted of a crime involving a breach of religion or honor, or been the subject of a disciplinary decision dismissing him from a public post, even if his reputation has been restored.
Note on the sixth condition that restoration of reputation does not remove the bar. A person who has been convicted of a crime involving a breach of religion or honor, or dismissed on disciplinary grounds from a public post, is not appointed to the judiciary even if his reputation has been restored.
The grades of the judicial corps referred to in the age condition are listed in Article 32: judicial lieutenant; judge (C), (B) and (A); court deputy (B) and (A); court president (B) and (A); appeal judge; president of an appeal court; and president of the Supreme Court.
The article sets only the eligibility conditions for appointment. It does not explain how judges are selected or the application procedures.
Practical example
Abdulrahman (23 years old) graduated from a Sharia college at a university in the Kingdom, and he is a Saudi national by origin of good conduct. Under this article, he meets the qualification and age conditions for judicial grades other than appeal judge, for which the age must be at least 40, provided that the other conditions are also met.
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 31 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
What are the conditions for appointment as a judge in Saudi Arabia?
He must be a Saudi national by origin, of good character and conduct, with full capacity for the judiciary under Sharia, hold a degree from a Sharia college in the Kingdom or an equivalent degree with a special examination, meet the age condition, and not have been convicted of a crime involving a breach of religion or honor or dismissed on disciplinary grounds from a public post.
What is the minimum age for a judge?
At least 40 years for appointment to the grade of appeal judge, and at least 22 years for the other grades.
Is a graduate of a college other than a Sharia college accepted for the judiciary?
A person holding a degree equivalent to a degree from the Sharia colleges in the Kingdom may be, provided he passes a special examination prepared by the Supreme Judicial Council.
Does restoration of reputation allow a person to become a judge?
No. The article bars from the judiciary a person convicted of a crime involving a breach of religion or honor, or dismissed on disciplinary grounds from a public post, even if his reputation has been restored.
More articles on Conditions for Appointing Judges
- Article 32
The article sets the grades of the judicial corps in the Kingdom from judicial lieutenant to president of the Supreme Court, and provides that they are filled under the provisions of the Law of the Judiciary.
درجات السلك القضائي هي: ملازم قضائي، قاضي (ج) قاضي (ب) قاضي (أ)، وكيل محكمة (ب)، وكيل محكمة (أ)، ورئيس محكمة (ب)، رئيس محكمة (أ)، قاضي استئناف، رئيس محكمة استئن
- Article 33
In addition to the conditions of Article 31, the grade of judicial lieutenant requires a university degree with an overall grade of at least Good and at least Very Good in jurisprudence and its principles.
يشترط فيمن يشغل درجة ملازم قضائي - بالإضافة إلى ما ورد في المادة الحادية والثلاثين من هذا النظام، أن يكون قد حصل على الشهادة الجامعية بتقدير عام لا يقل عن (جيد)
- Article 44
The article sets a probation period of two years for a judicial lieutenant and one year for a judge appointed initially, and gives a person first appointed to the judicial corps an allowance equal to three months' salary.
1- تكون مدة التجربة للملازم القضائي سنتين، من تاريخ مباشرته العمل بعد صدور قرار من المجلس الأعلى للقضاء بتعيينه على هذه الوظيفة. فإن رئي خلال هذه المدة عدم صلاح
- Article 47
The article provides that appointment and promotion in the judicial grades are by royal order on a decision of the Supreme Judicial Council, and sets the promotion criteria: seniority, then efficiency, then age.
يجري التعيين والترقية في درجات السلك القضائي بأمر ملكي بناءً على قرار من المجلس الأعلى للقضاء يوضح فيه توافر الشروط النظامية في كل حالة على حدة. ويراعي المجلس ف
- Article 76
The article requires anyone appointed as a notary to meet the conditions in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of Article 31, which sets the conditions for taking up judicial office.
يشترط فيمن يعين على وظيفة كاتب عدل أن تتوافر فيه الشروط المنصوص عليها في الفقرات (أ)، و(ب) و(ج)، و(د)، و(و) من المادة الحادية والثلاثين من هذا النظام.
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.