What Are the Responsibilities of the Supreme Judicial Council?

The Supreme Judicial Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undertakes several regulatory, administrative, supervisory, and developmental responsibilities in all matters related to the judiciary, its systems, operational mechanisms, and employees. The council oversees all matters related to the courts and their operations, in addition to judges and their appointment, monitoring their work, taking any disciplinary actions against them, and investigation and inspection processes.

The Supreme Judicial Council has the authority to issue rules and regulations after the king's approval in all the following: matters related to the affairs of the council and judges, the organization of the judicial circuits, the issuance of regulations for specific types of cases, such as those involving pilgrims and Umrah performers, and regulations allowing them to select judicial assistants, such as notaries public, and organize their work. Additionally, the council has the right to regulate judicial procedures, establish specialized courts, and merge or cancel them after determining their jurisdiction, the judges assigned to them, and their necessary staff. The council retains the right to issue the final judgment on cases that were not objected to in front of the appeal.