Newly-appointed heads of four judicial bodies have started work, reports Mona El-Nahhas The heads of four judicial bodies have been named and are apparently ready to tackle the issues head-on. Judge Adel Abdel-Hamid was appointed chief justice of the Cassation Court and chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC). Judge Farouk Sultan was assigned head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Judge Mohamed El-Husseini head of the State Council (administrative judiciary) and Judge Sedqi Abdel-Rahman Kholosi, head of the State Legislation Authority. Abdel-Hamid pledged to start negotiations with the state to improve the living conditions of judges. He stressed that a judge who will not abide by judicial traditions will be questioned. Abdel-Hamid welcomed the expansion of the SJC membership on condition that seniority and judicial independence be respected. He denied the existence of any differences between judges and Justice Minister Mamdouh Marei who is "first and foremost a colleague". Abdel-Hamid described judicial inspection of judges as a necessity, however, he added, "this should be carried out under the supervision of the SJC." According to Abdel-Hamid, a judicial career should be the only concern of judges "for they are not politicians". Sultan said he will study all lawsuits and appeals heard by the Constitutional Court and pledged to soon settle all pending cases and issue rulings. The Constitutional Court is entitled to decide on the constitutionality of laws, and the post of chief justice of the Constitutional Court is highly regarded. According to Article 84 of the constitution, if the presidential office is vacant or the president of the republic is unable to carry out his duties, the speaker of the People's Assembly will temporarily assume the presidency. If at that time, the PA is dissolved, the chief justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court will take over the presidency on condition that neither one shall nominate himself for the presidency. Before taking over his new post, Sultan was chief justice of the Cairo Southern Court and head of the committee supervising polls at professional syndicates, a post which embroiled him in several disputes with lawyers and engineers. At a press conference held after his appointment, El-Husseini surprised those assembled by announcing that he would be pleased to appoint women judges. The whole issue, he said, will soon be presented before the State Council's special committee for study. El-Husseini promised to define certain criteria that will guarantee no delay in the hearings of cases which have accumulated at administrative courts. The role of the administrative judiciary is to decide on the legitimacy of decrees issued by governmental bodies. El-Husseini said he was ready to meet people who complain of not being given rulings in cases filed against administrative bodies. El-Husseini also said he will organise training courses for the new generation of judges. Veteran judges who reached the age of retirement will be invited to take part in the seminars. As for the law regulating the State Council, El-Husseini said new amendments will be introduced without going into details. Kholosi stated that safeguarding the rights of the state will top his priorities. He said he was now in the process of promoting 483 authority members and appointing new chairmen at the authority's various departments. On 1 July, President Hosni Mubarak issued appointment decrees for the new heads of the judicial bodies. The following day, they took the oath of office before Mubarak at the presidential office.
