Article 32 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 32 من نظام القضاء
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 استئناف، رئيس المحكمة العليا، ويجري شغل هذه الدرجات طبقًا لأحكام هذا النظام.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article sets out the career ladder for judges in the Kingdom, showing the grades through which a member of the judicial corps progresses from joining until the highest judicial post.
The grades, according to the text, are:
- Judicial lieutenant.
- Judge (C).
- Judge (B).
- Judge (A).
- Court deputy (B).
- Court deputy (A).
- Court president (B).
- Court president (A).
- Appeal judge.
- President of an appeal court.
- President of the Supreme Court.
The article provides that these grades are filled under the provisions of the Law of the Judiciary, meaning that moving from one grade to another happens only when the conditions the Law sets for each grade are met. Article 31 sets the general conditions for everyone who is appointed to the judiciary, such as Saudi nationality by origin, good conduct, holding a degree from one of the Sharia colleges in the Kingdom or an equivalent, and being at least forty years old for appointment to the grade of appeal judge and at least twenty-two for the other grades. Article 33 adds a condition specific to the grade of judicial lieutenant, relating to the grade achieved in the university degree.
The importance of this article is that it is the reference on which the conditions for promotion and appointment to each grade are built. It reflects that the judiciary is an organized professional corps with a clear progression, which contributes to achieving what Article 1 provides about the independence of judges and that no one may interfere with their judging.
Practical example
Khalid graduates from a Sharia college and joins the judicial corps, starting at the grade of judicial lieutenant. Over the years, as he meets the conditions for each grade that the Law of the Judiciary sets, he can progress to judge (C), then judge (B), and so on, and he cannot jump to a higher grade without meeting its legal conditions.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 32 of Law of the Judiciary?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
General Practice lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
General Practice lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office
Khalid Abdulrahman Al-Hajlah Law and Arbitration Office
Frequently asked questions about Article 32 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
How many grades does the judicial corps have in Saudi Arabia?
Article 32 sets eleven grades, starting with judicial lieutenant and ending with president of the Supreme Court.
What is the first grade in the judicial corps?
The first grade is judicial lieutenant, followed by judge (C), then judge (B), then judge (A).
How are the grades of the judicial corps filled?
The article provides that these grades are filled under the provisions of the Law of the Judiciary, meaning that the conditions the Law sets for each grade must be met.
More articles on Judicial Grades and Promotion
- 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 34
The article requires that a person have spent at least three years in the grade of judicial lieutenant to fill the grade of judge (C).
يشترط فيمن يشغل درجة قاضي (ج) أن يكون قد أمضى في درجة ملازم قضائي ثلاث سنوات على الأقل.
- Article 35Amended (1441 AH)
The article sets the conditions for the grade of judge (B): one year in the grade of judge (C), or one of the alternatives it names of comparable judicial work, teaching, or an academic qualification.
يشترط فيمن يشغل درجة قاضي (ب) أن يكون قد قضى سنة على الأقل في درجة قاضي (ج)، أو اشتغل بأعمال قضائية نظيرة لمدة أربع سنوات على الأقل، أو قام بتدريس الفقه أو أصول
- Article 36
The article requires, for the grade of judge (A), four years in the grade of judge (B), or eight years of comparable judicial work or teaching jurisprudence, or a doctorate in jurisprudence or its principles.
يشترط فيمن يشغل درجة قاضي (أ) أن يكون قد قضى أربع سنوات على الأقل في درجة قاضي (ب) أو اشتغل بأعمال قضائية نظيرة لمدة ثماني سنوات على الأقل، أو قام بتدريس الفقه
- Article 37
The article requires, for the grade of court deputy (B), at least three years in the grade of judge (A), or eleven years of comparable judicial work or teaching jurisprudence or its principles.
يشترط فيمن يشغل درجة وكيل محكمة (ب) أن يكون قد قضى ثلاث سنوات على الأقل في درجة قاضي (أ)، أو اشتغل بأعمال قضائية نظيرة لمدة إحدى عشرة سنة على الأقل، أو قام بتدر
- Article 38
The article requires, for the grade of court deputy (A), at least two years in the grade of court deputy (B), or thirteen years of comparable judicial work or teaching jurisprudence or its principles.
يشترط فيمن يشغل درجة وكيل محكمة (أ) أن يكون قد قضى سنتين على الأقل في درجة وكيل محكمة (ب)، أو اشتغل بأعمال قضائية نظيرة لمدة ثلاث عشرة سنة على الأقل، أو قام بتد
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.