Article 38 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 38 من نظام القضاء
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بتدريس الفقه أو أصوله في إحدى الكليات بالمملكة لمدة ثلاث عشرة سنة على الأقل.
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 38 explained in plain English
This article sets out the conditions required for filling the grade of court deputy (A), one of the grades of the judicial corps. It rests on the idea that reaching this grade comes through experience, whether inside the judicial corps or in comparable work.
It is enough for any one of the following ways to be met, because the text links them with the word "or":
- He has spent at least two years in the grade of court deputy (B).
- Or he has worked in comparable judicial work for at least thirteen years.
- Or he has taught jurisprudence or its principles at one of the colleges in the Kingdom for at least thirteen years.
The first route is the usual one for someone progressing within the judicial corps, since two years in the previous grade is enough for him. Someone whose experience is in comparable judicial work or in teaching jurisprudence or its principles at the Kingdom's colleges is required to have a longer period, thirteen years.
The progression is clear by comparison with Article 37, which requires, for the grade of court deputy (B), three years in the grade of judge (A) or eleven years in comparable work or teaching, and with Article 39, which requires, for the grade of court president (B), two years in the grade of court deputy (A) or fifteen years in comparable work or teaching.
The article does not explain in detail what is meant by comparable judicial work. Anyone in doubt about whether particular experience counts should consult a lawyer specialized in judicial laws.
Practical example
Turki has been a court deputy (B) for two full years. Under Article 38, he thereby meets the period condition for filling the grade of court deputy (A), whereas someone coming from comparable judicial work needs at least thirteen years.
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 38 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
What are the conditions for the grade of court deputy (A)?
He must have spent at least two years in the grade of court deputy (B), or worked in comparable judicial work for at least thirteen years, or taught jurisprudence or its principles at one of the Kingdom's colleges for at least thirteen years.
Can a professor of jurisprudence fill the grade of court deputy (A)?
Yes, if he has taught jurisprudence or its principles at one of the colleges in the Kingdom for at least thirteen years, as the article provides.
Must all of these conditions be met together?
No. The text links the routes with the word "or", so meeting one of them is enough.
More articles on Judicial Grades and Promotion
- 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 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
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.