Jordanian Judges Address Ways to Improve Judicial Efficiency

JORDAN TIMES

November 19, 2009

AMMAN (JT) - Chief judges from across the Kingdom Wednesday unanimously agreed to take steps to streamline the judicial process.

At the conclusion of a three-day workshop on resource management in the justice system organized by the Rule of Law Project and funded by USAID, the judges agreed to support the role of court administrator, re-introduce the work of civil case management, and roll out mediation in all national courts and equip them with trained mediators.

The workshop focused on a number of valuable tools that enable chief judges to make the best of their available human and financial resources in line with His Majesty King Abdullah’s vision to enhance the independence and performance of the justice system, according to a statement released by the Rule of Law Project.

Opening the conference, Justice Minister Ayman Odeh reiterated the “need to have substantial changes to facilitate the work of judges”, according to the statement.

“We need to change the way things are done and to alleviate burdens placed on judges through their daily work,” the minister added.

During the workshop, chief justices shared their experiences with new strategies to streamline the court’s work.

Judge Ahmad Jamalieh from the Amman Court of First Instance gave a presentation on his tribunal’s pilot case management initiative, through which processes were expedited allowing enhanced judicial control over case procedures, while Chief Judge Feda Al Hmoud highlighted the positive results of her west Amman court’s mediation project.

Rule of Law Project Chief of Party Walter Kuencer thanked the courts for allowing the project to work with them.

“It is through partnership that we have succeeded where no other justice system in the region has - in computerizing courts throughout the Kingdom.”