Article 58 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 58 من نظام القضاء
The article gives the president of each court the right to supervise its judges and to warn them of their violations after hearing their statements, and lets a judge object to a written warning within fifteen days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بما للقضاء من حياد واستقلال، وبما للمجلس الأعلى للقضاء من حق الإشراف على المحاكم والقضاة وأعمالهم، يكون لرئيس كل محكمة حق الإشراف على قضاتها وحق تنبيههم إلى ما يقع منهم مخالفا لواجباتهم أو مقتضيات وظائفهم بعد سماع أقوالهم. ويكون التنبيه مشافهة أو كتابة، وفي الحالة الأخيرة تبلغ صورة منه للمجلس الأعلى للقضاء. ويجوز للقاضي الاعتراض أمام المجلس ـ كتابة ـ على التنبيه الصادر إليه كتابة خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ تبليغه. فإن تكررت منه المخالفة أو استمرت تتم محاكمته تأديبيًّا.
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 58 explained in plain English
This article regulates the supervision of a court's judges by the court's president and his right to warn them, with safeguards for the judge.
The general framework: the president of the court exercises this right without prejudice to the impartiality and independence of the judiciary, and to the right of the Supreme Judicial Council to supervise the courts and the judges and their work. So the court president's supervision does not cancel the Council's supervision, and does not affect the judge's independence in his judging that Article 1 provides.
Powers of the court's president:
- Supervising the judges of the court.
- Warning them of anything they do that violates their duties or the requirements of their posts, after hearing their statements.
Form of the warning: it may be oral or written. If it is written, a copy is sent to the Supreme Judicial Council.
Objection: the judge may object before the Council, in writing, to a warning issued to him in writing, within fifteen days from the date of his notification. The text mentions no objection to an oral warning.
The effect of repetition: if the violation is repeated or continues, the judge is tried on disciplinary grounds. Article 59 makes the disciplining of judges the jurisdiction of a circuit formed in the Supreme Judicial Council of three of the full-time judges who are members of the Council, which issues its decisions by majority, and its decisions are not final until the Council approves them.
This objection differs from the objection to the efficiency report in Article 57, which is submitted to the inspection department within thirty days from the date of notification unless there is an acceptable excuse.
Practical example
The president of a court in Jeddah noticed that one of its judges repeatedly delays opening his sessions. He heard his statements, then issued him a written warning and sent a copy to the Supreme Judicial Council. Under Article 58, the judge may object in writing before the Council within fifteen days of his notification, and if the violation is repeated or continues, he is tried on disciplinary grounds.
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 58 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
Does the president of the court have the right to warn a judge?
Yes. He has the right to warn the judges of the court of anything they do that violates their duties or the requirements of their posts, after hearing their statements.
How long does a judge have to object to a warning?
Fifteen days from the date he is notified of the written warning, and the objection is made before the Council in writing.
What happens if a judge repeats the violation after the warning?
If the violation is repeated or continues, he is tried on disciplinary grounds.
More articles on Judicial Inspection
- 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 55
The article creates in the Supreme Judicial Council a judicial inspection department that inspects judges' work and investigates complaints referred to it, at least once and at most twice a year.
1- تؤلف في المجلس الأعلى للقضاء إدارة للتفتيش القضائي من رئيس ومساعد وعدد كاف من القضاة المتفرغين يختارهم المجلس من بين قضاة محاكم الاستئناف ومحاكم الدرجة الأول
- Article 56
The article sets four grades for rating a judge's efficiency: distinguished, above average, average and below average.
يكون تقدير كفاية القاضي بإحدى الدرجات الآتية: متميز - فوق المتوسط - متوسط - أقل من المتوسط.
- Article 57
The article requires notifying the judge of his efficiency report and what is filed in his file, lets him object within thirty days, and has the Supreme Judicial Council decide with a final decision.
1- تبلغ إدارة التفتيش القضائي القاضي بالتقرير وتقدير كفايته، كما تبلغه بكل ما يودع في ملفه. وله أن يقدم لإدارة التفتيش اعتراضه على ذلك خلال (ثلاثين) يومًا من تا
- Article 60
The article regulates filing the disciplinary case against a judge by the head of the judicial inspection department at the request of the president of the Supreme Judicial Council, after a criminal or administrative investigation, and the contents of the statement of claim.
يرفع رئيس إدارة التفتيش القضائي أو من ينيبه الدعوة التأديبية ـ أمام دائرة التأديب ـ بطلب من رئيس المجلس الأعلى للقضاء إما من تلقاء نفسه أو بناء على اقتراح رئيس
- Article 79
The article subjects notaries to judicial inspection in accordance with the provisions of the Law of the Judiciary.
يخضع كتاب العدل للتفتيش القضائي، وفقا لأحكام 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.