The winding year saw the rise of figures and phenomena that promise to be of crucial importance this year. Al-Ahram Weekly keeps track of a changing vista Of all the social sectors, the judiciary is likely to achieve significant levels of reform during 2006. The winding year having witnessed a long and seething battle between the judges and the state, it was the pro-reform faction of the judges who rose to power within the Judges Clubs. Together with all those judges who were vocal about the need for reform, Cairo Club Chairman maintained his seat during the elections last December. The same was true of Mahmoud El-Khodeiri, chairman of the Alexandria Judges Club, who sparked the campaign for reform last May. Both names made the headlines following their steadfast stance on the presidential and parliamentary elections; both had insistently exposed violations of the electoral process, standing firmly against the government's attempts to abort the revolt by, among other means, a smear campaign intended to undermine members of both clubs. Yet the current situation implies that the judiciary as a whole is likely to take steps in the direction of reform. In 2006, indeed, the principal challenge the two clubs will face is the judiciary authority law, which they have been struggling to amend. Following President Hosni Mubarak's announcement that the amendment would be submitted for review to the People's Assembly, they have adopted a unified stance, devoting much effort to safeguarding the current draft of the amendment against the possibility of intervention. The next general assembly of the Cairo Judges Club, to take place on 17 March, will follow up on this and other points, as well as issuing a much anticipated report assessing the last two elections. By Mona El-Nahhas
