The Ministry of Justice is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court. Sheikh Muhammad Bin Al-Issa, Minister of Justice, said Saturday the bill will be issued in the coming days as part of King Abdullah's “plan to develop the justice system.” Addressing a workshop on the international legal framework for countering terrorism and its funding which opened in Riyadh Saturday, Al-Issa said the committee to study the role of women in the legal profession has finished its task and that the matter was now awaiting the approval of the King. The law would mark a major step for female lawyers in the Kingdom. Currently, women law graduates can work in government offices and in court offices, but cannot argue cases before court. Under the new law, women would be allowed to argue cases on child custody, divorce and other family-related issues. Al-Issa also said that a draft law for the establishment of reconciliation offices in courts would be submitted to the King for approval. The establishment of these offices would help speed up the litigation process in that “the preliminary judge would not finalize any case unless it is seen by the mediator or the reconciliation judge”. The minister said the procedure is meant to shorten the litigation period and lighten the burden of judges.
