Egypt’s State Council reaffirms rejection of new judicial authority law

“Parliament will discuss council remarks during Wednesday’s general assembly,” says MP

Egypt’s State Council on Saturday reaffirmed its rejection of the new judicial authority draft law, which grants more power to the president in appointing the heads of the judiciary councils, state-media reported.

Late in March, amendments to the judicial authority law were approved by the Egyptian parliament’s constitutional and legislative affairs committee, which empower the president to pick from three candidates nominated by each judicial council.

According to Article 185 of the Constitution, the judiciary authority is an independent authority, and Article 44 of the judicial authority states that the heads of the judiciary councils are selected by judicial councils based on seniority and that the president ratifies the council’s selection of its most senior member.

Member of parliament (MP) Ahmed Salam El-Sharkawy told Daily News Egypt that the parliament will discuss the rejection of the State Council and its remarks in the general assembly on Wednesday.

“I reject this draft law because it is unconstitutional and violates the principle of separation of powers, enabling the hegemony of executive authority over the judicial authority,” El-Sharkawy added.

In a statement on 16April,Egypt’s Judges Club called for a meeting with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to discuss the amendments of the judicial authority law.

The draft law was rejected by several Egyptian judicial bodies and members of the “25-30” parliamentary coalition, saying it undermines the independence of the judiciary.