Kuwait Showcases Its Digital Experience in the Judicial Inspection System - Sarmad

A Kuwaiti judicial delegation, during its participation in the 30th Arab Meeting of Heads of Judicial Inspection Bodies and Agencies, held in the Sultanate of Oman, reviewed Kuwait’s experience in automating judicial inspection and technical oversight, amid the rapid digital transformation underway in the judicial system.

The head of the delegation, First Advisor at the Court of Cassation Khaled Bashir, stated that the meeting, hosted in Salalah for two days with judicial delegations from 14 Arab countries, focused on the importance of developing oversight and evaluation tools, and leveraging modern technologies to achieve efficiency while preserving judicial independence.

He added that the meeting aimed to build a shared vision for developing the inspection system and exchanging expertise, through working papers that collectively addressed the transition from traditional oversight to preventive oversight, evaluating court performance, and exploring the application of smart technologies in legal research and data processing. The discussions also covered challenges related to algorithmic bias and the protection and confidentiality of judicial files.

Regarding the Kuwaiti working paper, titled “The Digital Judicial Inspection System and the Application of Modern Performance Indicators to Ensure Timely Justice,” it highlighted the Kuwaiti judicial system in the context of digital transformation, particularly the experience of judicial inspection in developing its supervisory and oversight tools to reinforce governance and transparency standards.

Advisor Bashir noted that the working paper aimed to establish unified Arab standards for evaluating judicial efficiency based on digital performance indicators, and to support Arab coordination mechanisms for developing investigative and administrative and technical audit methods within the judicial service.

In this regard, he pointed out the presentation of Kuwait’s experience in digital transformation and electronic inspection, following the adoption of scanning and converting all paper documents, records, statements, and judgments into organized and archived digital formats across all levels of litigation.

He clarified that the Kuwaiti delegation explained how this was achieved through the secure storage and archiving of case files in databases with restricted access rights for specific individuals involved in judicial work, enabling judicial inspectors to review the full content of inspected case files, thereby accelerating the preparation of judicial inspection reports.

Advisor Bashir stated that the working paper also addressed how digital transformation enabled judicial inspectors to move from traditional evaluation to comprehensive evaluation based on accurate information, through network integration between courts and the inspection authority.

He emphasized the legislative developments in Kuwait following the recent issuance of the Law Regulating the Judiciary, which organized inspection and digital transformation by introducing new evaluation methods related to judges’ compliance with electronic litigation and hearings, and the proper management of digital sessions.

Regarding the delegation’s key recommendations, he said it recommended the importance of unifying procedural inspection standards among Arab countries, and developing digital guidelines for measuring judicial performance, to realize shared aspirations for an advanced judiciary.

It also recommended that the Arab Award for Judicial Inspection Work be dedicated to electronic applications that have proven their success in judicial inspection.

On the importance of participating in the meeting, he affirmed that it stems from a firm commitment to enhancing joint Arab judicial cooperation, and exchanging expertise and insights on developing judicial inspection bodies, as they serve as a safeguard to ensure the proper administration of justice, preserve judicial independence, and reinforce the rule of law.

The Kuwaiti judicial delegation included First Counselor Khaled Bashir of the Court of Cassation, First Counselor Raed Al-Diyuli of the Court of Appeal, and Khaled Al-Nuaimi from the Judicial Inspection Affairs Department of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice.

At the conclusion of its sessions yesterday, Tuesday, the 30th Meeting of the Heads of Judicial Inspection Bodies and Agencies in Arab Countries reached a number of recommendations, the most prominent of which were the adoption of the draft Arab Award for Judicial Inspection Work and the harmonization of procedural inspection standards among Arab countries.

It also recommended adopting a balanced system for evaluating judges’ performance, developing objective and measurable criteria, linking evaluation results to continuous training and qualification plans, and adopting artificial intelligence as an assistive tool for analyzing the quality of judicial rulings and inspection work, while establishing legislative and ethical frameworks to govern its use.

Participants approved several scientific themes for the 31st Meeting in 2027, including total quality management in judicial facilities, balancing judicial independence with performance evaluation, smart justice, and preparing a unified Arab framework for indicators of the quality of judicial rulings and judicial inspection.