'Four new members appointed to Constitutional Court'

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Wednesday appointing four new members to the Constitutional Court.

The new appointees are Mohammad Alawneh, Mohammad Mubaidin, Qasem Momani and George Hazbun, according to a Royal Court statement, which said their appointments would be effective from Thursday.

The Constitutional Court specialises in interpreting the Constitution, overseeing the constitutionality of laws and regulations in force and guaranteeing that the rights of all Jordanian citizens are upheld in accordance with the Constitution.

The court was established under the 2011 amendments to the Constitution and is cited as a milestone in the Kingdom's reform process.

Under the latest constitutional amendments, endorsed in May, the King has the sole authority to appoint the president and members of the Constitutional Court.

Upon the Constitutional Court Law's entry into force in 2012, His Majesty appointed nine members, including the president.

Under the law, the King appoints three members to the Court every two years from the date of appointment of the first nine members.

Those eligible to be members of the court should have reached 50 years of age and be judges who have served in the Court of Cassation and the High Court of Justice. 

Professors of law and lawyers who have practised for at least 15 years may also be appointed as members, according to the court's law.