Appeals Court President: By Royal Decree, We Are Nearing the Realization of 'Kuwaitization of the Judiciary'
Mubarak Habib – The President of the Court of Appeal, Counselor Muhammad Al-Rifai, praised the efforts exerted by the court’s counselors during the past judicial year, affirming that the rates of hearing and resolving appeals recorded unprecedented levels, according to statistics issued by the court. This contributed to achieving prompt justice within appropriate timeframes.
He made these remarks in a speech delivered during the general assembly meeting of the Court of Appeal, held to mark the end of the judicial year. Al-Rifai expressed his appreciation for the counselors and staff of the court, emphasizing that the achievements of the past year reflect a high level of responsibility and commitment.
Al-Rifai stated that the efforts made by the counselors in hearing and resolving appeals during the past judicial year deserve commendation, noting that the resolution rates were “unprecedented” according to the court’s statistics.
He added that resolving appeals at such high rates and within appropriate timeframes had a significant impact on achieving the prompt justice sought by the court, in line with the standing and reputation of the Kuwaiti judiciary.
Regarding the upcoming judicial year, the President of the Court of Appeal called for further effort and dedication to maintain performance levels and ensure the uninterrupted administration of justice, amid a decline in the court’s judicial capacity.
He explained that this situation resulted from the transfer of several counselors to the Court of Cassation, as well as the departure of a large number of Egyptian judges following the expiration of their contracts. This forced the court to reduce the number of chambers to address the shortage in judicial personnel.
Al-Rifai affirmed that the court’s administration had, to the extent possible, tried to accommodate the preferences of the counselors when distributing work, within the limits allowed by circumstances, while placing the interests of the work first.
He said the goal is to achieve a balance between the requirements of judicial work and the available circumstances, ensuring the court continues to perform its duties with the required competence.
Al-Rifai pointed to the support provided by the state to the judiciary, considering this moral and material support enables judges to fulfill their mission to the best of their ability. He noted that the Court of Appeal has kept His Highness the Amir’s directive regarding the acceleration of the Kuwaitization of the judiciary in mind from the very beginning, affirming: “We thank God that we are nearing the attainment of the desired goal.”
Al-Rifai expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the state’s support of the judiciary and its officials, praising the care the judiciary receives from the political leadership.
He also extended his thanks to the counselors in the Technical Office and its staff, as well as to the court’s registry administration and all its employees, in recognition of the efforts they exerted, which had a major impact on facilitating work and overcoming the obstacles faced by the court.
In conclusion, Counselor Al-Rifai expressed his hope that he had fulfilled the trust placed upon him to the best of his ability, stating that any success was due to God’s grace, while any error or shortcoming was his own. He asked God for forgiveness and guidance toward the truth and its adherence.
