A delegation of five lawyers presented the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces with a petition Saturday, demanding that they take action regarding the amendments to the Judicial Authority The delegation was led by Montaser al-Zayat, a candidate for head of the lawyers union. The petition said that the amendments being made to the Judicial Authority Law would adversely effect the legal profession. They said the law is an extension of the constitution and should not be issued before the new constitution is issued They said that since judges amended and prepared the new law and also discussed its application, it is incompatible with the law and the Constitution, as the parliament is the only real legislative body able to issue new laws “The Judges running the union seem to be manipulating the current situation to their own advantage and push for the creation of a supreme council in the union that would reflect their interests,” the lawyers said. The delegation asked SCAF to intervene and postpone the project until parliamentary elections were over in order for the law to be discussed and issued properly. They also asked that a time be set for the lawyers union elections to take place no later than Nov 15.
