Article 67 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 67 من نظام القضاء
The article sets out the instrument for carrying out the two disciplinary penalties: a royal order to carry out termination of a judge's service, and a decision of the president of the Supreme Judicial Council for a reprimand.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يصدر أمر ملكي بتنفيذ عقوبة إنهاء الخدمة، كما يصدر بعقوبة اللوم قرار من رئيس 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 67 explained in plain English
After Article 66 set the two disciplinary penalties that may be imposed on a judge, reprimand and termination of service, this article sets out the instrument by which each penalty is issued:
- The penalty of termination of service: a royal order is issued to carry it out.
- The penalty of reprimand: a decision of the president of the Supreme Judicial Council is issued for it.
The text distinguishes between the two penalties in the instrument of issue: termination of service, by which the judge's relationship with the judicial corps ends, is carried out by royal order, whereas for a reprimand a decision of the president of the Supreme Judicial Council is enough.
As for Article 68, it regulates a matter independent of disciplinary penalties, which is the arrest and detention of a member of the judicial corps when caught in the act of a crime, and the requirement that his case be brought before the Supreme Judicial Council within 24 hours of his arrest.
The two penalties remain as Article 66 sets them, exhaustively, so this article adds no new penalty but sets out the issuing authority.
The text does not state a specific period for the royal order or the decision to be issued, nor additional procedures for carrying them out.
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 67 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
How is the penalty of terminating a judge's service carried out?
Article 67 provides that a royal order is issued to carry out the penalty of termination of service.
Who issues the penalty of reprimand against a judge?
A decision of the president of the Supreme Judicial Council is issued for the penalty of reprimand.
What disciplinary penalties does this article address?
It addresses the two penalties that Article 66 set, which are reprimand and termination of service.
More articles on Judicial Discipline and Trial of Judges
- Article 4
Judges may not be sued over their official acts except under the conditions and rules for their discipline, without prejudice to Article 68.
مع عدم الإخلال بحكم المادة الثامنة والستين من هذا النظام، لا تجوز مخاصمة القضاة - بسبب أعمال وظيفتهم - إلا وفق الشروط والقواعد الخاصة بتأديبهم.
- Article 58
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.
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
- Article 59
The article makes the disciplining of judges the jurisdiction of a circuit in the Supreme Judicial Council of three of its full-time judge members, whose decisions are issued by majority and are not final until the Council approves.
يكون تأديب القضاة من اختصاص دائرة تشكل في المجلس الأعلى للقضاء من ثلاثة من القضاة أعضاء المجلس المتفرغين، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية، ولا تكون نهائية إلا بعد مواف
- 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 61
The article provides that if the disciplinary circuit sees grounds to proceed with the case, the judge is summoned to appear at a suitable time, with a sufficient statement of its subject and the evidence of the violation.
إذا رأت دائرة التأديب وجهًا للسير في إجراءات الدعوى عن جميع المخالفات أو بعضها، كلف القاضي، بالحضور في ميعاد مناسب، ويجب أن يشتمل التكليف بالحضور على بيان كاف ب
- Article 62
The article allows the disciplinary circuit, on deciding to proceed with the case and with the Supreme Judicial Council's approval, to suspend the judge from work until the trial ends, and to reconsider the suspension.
يجوز لدائرة التأديب ــ عند تقرير السير في إجراءات الدعوى ـ وبعد موافقة المجلس الأعلى للقضاء أن تأمر بوقف القاضي عن مباشرة أعمال وظيفته حتى تنتهي المحاكمة وللدائ
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.