Article 70 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
المادة 70 من نظام القضاء
The article provides that a judicial member's service ends by royal order on the Supreme Judicial Council's proposal, except for death, retirement at the statutory age, and a judicial lieutenant's unsuitability during probation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
في غير حالات الوفاة والإحالة على التقاعد لبلوغ السن النظامية وعدم الصلاحية خلال فترة التجربة بالنسبة إلى الملازم القضائي، تنتهي خدمة عضو السلك القضائي بأمر ملكي بناء على اقتراح 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 70 explained in plain English
After Article 69 listed the grounds on which a judicial member's service ends, this article states the instrument by which the service is ended.
General rule: The service of a member of the judicial corps ends by royal order on the proposal of the Supreme Judicial Council. Depending on the grounds listed in Article 69, this covers cases such as acceptance of a resignation, acceptance of a request for retirement, medical incapacity, receiving a below-average rating in the efficiency report three consecutive times, and termination of service on disciplinary grounds.
Cases excepted from this instrument:
- Death.
- Retirement on reaching the statutory age.
- Unsuitability during the probation period in the case of a judicial lieutenant.
This article does not state the instrument by which service ends in the excepted cases. Note that the last exception applies to the judicial lieutenant alone, as the text says, so by its wording it does not extend to others who may be on probation.
The next article in the context shown, Article 71, moves to a different subject: the Ministry of Justice's administrative and financial supervision of the courts and notary offices.
Anyone who needs to understand how these provisions affect their position in the judicial corps may consult a lawyer who specializes in judicial and administrative law.
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 70 of the Saudi Law of the Judiciary
How does a judge's service end in Saudi Arabia?
Article 70 provides that the service of a member of the judicial corps ends by royal order on the proposal of the Supreme Judicial Council, apart from the cases it excepts.
Which cases do not require a royal order on the Council's proposal?
Death, retirement on reaching the statutory age, and unsuitability during the probation period in the case of a judicial lieutenant.
What are the grounds for ending a judge's service?
Article 69 lists them, including reaching the age of seventy, death, acceptance of a resignation, medical incapacity, and termination of service on disciplinary grounds.
More articles on End of a Judge's Service
- Article 2
The article provides that judges may not be removed except in the cases set out in the Law of the Judiciary itself.
القضاة غير قابلين للعزل إلا في الحالات المبينة في هذا النظام.
- 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 46
The article bars removing a member of the judicial corps, other than a lieutenant or a probationary initial appointee, except on the grounds in paragraphs (f, g, h) of Article 69 and under the Law's procedures.
فيما عدا الملازم القضائي ومن يعين ابتداءً تحت التجربة، لا يعزل عضو السلك القضائي إلا بناءً على الأسباب المنصوص عليها في الفقرات (و، ز، ح) من المادة التاسعة والس
- Article 67
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.
يصدر أمر ملكي بتنفيذ عقوبة إنهاء الخدمة، كما يصدر بعقوبة اللوم قرار من رئيس المجلس الأعلى للقضاء .
- Article 69
The article lists eight grounds on which the service of a member of the judicial corps ends, including reaching the age of seventy, death, resignation, health incapacity and termination of service on disciplinary grounds.
تنتهي خدمة عضو السلك القضائي بأحد الأسباب الآتية: أ ـ بلوغه سن السبعين. ب ـ الوفاة. ج ـ قبول استقالته. د ـ قبول طلبه الإحالة على التقاعد طبقًا لنظام التقاعد الم
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.