Kuwaiti Women in the Judiciary: 51 Female Judges
The number of female judges in Kuwait has risen to 51, with continued support from Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Samaiti to empower women in the judiciary through unified competence standards.
Translated by Qiyas from القبس — Original source
With the addition of seven new female judges last Wednesday to the judicial members in the courts, following their swearing-in before the President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and President of the Court of Cassation, Advisor Dr. Adel Bursali, the presence of women in the judiciary has been strengthened, gaining new momentum on the path to empowering women in judicial positions. With the recent addition of the seven female judges to the existing 44, the number of female judges in the judiciary has risen to 51, while the number of Kuwaiti women serving as members of the Public Prosecution stands at 122. In terms of figures, the total number of judges, both men and women, has increased from 838 to 870, bringing the total number of members of the judiciary and the Public Prosecution to 1,405, compared to 1,373 previously. Among these, members of the Public Prosecution number 535, comprising 413 men and 122 women. These figures reflect a continuous growth in the number of qualified Kuwaiti women eligible for judicial positions, amid the trend toward fully “Kuwaitizing” the judiciary within four years.
Continuous support
Justice Minister, Advisor Nasser Al-Sameet, affirmed to Al-Qabas the continued support for Kuwaiti women within the judicial system, stressing that their presence in the judiciary has become an integral part of the process of developing judicial work, and that competence and merit are the basis for attaining judicial positions. Al-Sameet stated that the Ministry continues to support and empower women in the judicial field, emphasizing that the achieved presence of female judges and female members of the Public Prosecution reflects the state’s confidence in women’s capabilities and their ability to shoulder the responsibilities of judicial work. He clarified that the admission tests through the Public Prosecutors’ portal now rely on unified and objective criteria, and are no longer based on predetermined quotas for males and females.
Competence and capability
Al-Sameet said: “The tests through the Public Prosecutors’ portal do not depend on specific numbers for females and males, but rather on competence, capability, and merit. Every applicant, male or female, receives the same opportunity, and the deciding factor is what they demonstrate in the tests and according to the accepted criteria.” He stressed that the equality stipulated in the Constitution is applied literally in admission procedures, affirming that men and women face the same standards, and that the goal is to reach the most competent individuals capable of bearing the trust of work in the Public Prosecution and the judiciary.
Three affirmations by the Minister of Justice:
1. Women’s presence in the judiciary has become an integral part of the judicial system’s development process.
2. Government support for empowering women in the judicial field continues with steady steps.
3. Competence and merit are the fundamental pillars for reaching judicial positions.
Three criteria for admission through the Public Prosecution portal:
1. Literal application of the constitutional provision of equality between male and female applicants without discrimination.
2. Elimination of predetermined numbers or quotas for males or females in admission tests.
3. The sole deciding factor for passing the tests is merit and the ability to bear responsibility.
