President Hosni Mubarak has resolved the issue over the judges' retirement age by keeping it at 70. This includes the judges of the ordinary courts, the Supreme Council of Magistracy, the Court of Cassation, the Courts of Appeal, the State Council, the Supreme Constitutional Court, the Administrative Prosecution and the State Courts. The Presidency yesterday sent a confidential letter to the State Council indicating that the political leadership is inclined not to extend the retirement age for more than the age of 70. The letter also said that President Mubarak nominates Chancellor Mohamed el-Husseini for president of the State Council, as he is the most senior adviser to succeed Chancellor Nabil Mirhim, who is leaving on the 6th of July. Husseini is currently the First Vice-President of the Council. The General Assembly of the State Council will convene on the 26th of June in preparation for the presidential decree of his appointment. The new Council will include the following judges after they predecessors go on pension: Chancellor Mohamed Abdel Ghani as First Vice-President, Chancellor Adel Farghali as president of the General Assembly for religious edicts and legislation, Chancellor Mohamed Attiya as president of the administrative courts, Chancellor Kamal Lamie as president of the legislation department, Chancellor Mohamed Ezzat as president of the commissions, and Chancellor Abdallah Aboul Ezz as president of the Supreme Administrative Court or the administrative and disciplinary tribunals. As to the ordinary courts, Chancellor Mokbel Shaker, President of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council, will be succeeded by Chancellor Adel Abdel Hamid. Also, Chancellor Salah el-Borgi, the First Vice-President of the Court of Cassation, will be succeeded by Chancellor Serri Siam, while Chancellor Kamal Nafie will become Second Vice-President of the Court of Cassation. Chancellor Adel Zaki Andraus, President of the Cairo Court of Appeal, will be succeeded by Chancellor Intessar Nessim, while Chancellor Abu Bakr el-Hilali, the incumbent President of the Mansoura Court of Appeal, will succeed Chancellor Hassan Suleiman as President of the Alexandria Court of Appeal, and Chancellor Ismail Hamdi will succeed Chancellor Mohamed Gheita as President of the Tanta Court. As to the Supreme Constitutional Court, President Maher Abdel Wahed will be succeeded either by Chancellor Serri Siam or Chancellor Abu Bakr el-Hilali.
