Lawmakers suggest electing judicial body members

AMMAN — A controversy erupted on Thursday over a suggestion to elect some members of the Higher Judicial Council (HJC).

The debate arose as the Lower House Legal Committee held a meeting to discuss the  independence of the judiciary draft law, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Deputy Rula Hroub, supported by her colleagues Jamil Nimri and Yihya Saud, proposed that the manner of forming the HJC should be changed to involve electing some of the members of the highest judicial authority.

They also suggested the inclusion of a representative of the civil community such as Jordan Bar Association’s president or head of the board of trustees at the National Centre for Human Rights in the makeup of the body.

However, the election idea was utterly rejected by HJC President Hisham Tal, who attended the meeting, along with Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni and high-profile judges.

He explained that due to the sensitivity of the judicial system, election of HJC members is out of question. He underlined the fact that the council members are not appointed as persons, but by virtue of their titles.

According to the new version of the law, president of the Cassation Court  automatically becomes the president of the council, with the chief judge at the Higher Court of Justice appointed as his deputy. Members include the head of the public prosecution at the Cassation Court, the two  longest-serving justices at the Cassation Court, presidents of the courts of appeal, the chief inspector of regular courts, secretary general of the Ministry of Justice and the longest-serving head of a Court of First Instance in Amman.