Amman, June 11 (Petra) -- His Majesty King Abdullah II has laid out a clear vision for comprehensive reform through a series of discussion papers to stimulate a national dialogue on the reform process and the democratic transition process to build consensus and enhance participation in decision-making.

The Judicial Council is tasked with implementing this vision through annual strategic plans for access to justice, protection of rights and freedoms, and enhancement of litigation procedures. It also seeks to build institutional capacities and improve the quality of services to enhance citizens' confidence in the judiciary.

According to the Council's annual report for 2024, a copy of which was obtained by Petra, total court cases were down for the second year in a row, by 18 percent from the previous year, 2023, which courts have not seen in more than 13 years.

The total cases for all courts across all jurisdictions and levels reached 61,682 by the end of last year, marking a drop in average judicial burden per judge, compared to 2023, it showed.

The Council also ensured fair trial guarantees and maintained quality judicial procedures and rulings, which reached 66 percent in first-instance courts, along with a 2 percent increase in the completion rate for general courts, and a drop in litigation duration to 57 days, according to the report.

Regarding Public Prosecution Departments, the overall completion rate of investigative cases topped 99.5 percent, with an 11 percent decline in cases, compared to 2023, leaving 625 investigative cases across all departments. Executive cases also exceeded 97 percent with an increase over last year, said the report.

On the other hand, the Public Prosecution made significant progress in collecting financial amounts, restoring over JD6 million to the treasury. The investigative procedures quality index also rose 3 percent, compared to 2023, enhancing citizens' confidence in the judiciary's competence and commitment to protecting individual rights and freedoms, it said.

The Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, took speedy steps to reinforce modern penal policies within the restorative justice system, based on the recommendations of the 2017 Royal Commission. It endeavored closely with judges and prosecutors to come up with new approaches and alternatives to custodial sentences with 2,392 rulings issued for adults, 5,414 measures for juveniles, and 2,176 imposing alternatives to pretrial detention, according to the report.

In administrative justice, the Supreme Administrative Court adjudicated 528 lawsuits, abolished 77 administrative decisions. It also received 861 cases, of which 872 were adjudicated, while maintaining an average litigation period of 79 days, it said.

//Petra//SS


11/06/2025 18:32:56