Saudi Arabia promotes, appoints 331 judges to courts

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, promoted and appointed 331 judges to the courts as part of the government’s efforts to change its judicial system.

The kingdom promoted 130 judges to the appellate courts and 167 to different positions in the court system, the justice ministry said in a statement on its website today. Thirty four judges and assistants were appointed to courts, the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia, a G-20 member with a legal system based on Shariah, or Islamic law, announced plans in 2007 to spend $2 billion to establish a supreme court and commercial and labor courts. The kingdom wants to appoint more judges to develop the judicial system as it seeks to attract more international investment.

The appointments “contribute to the development of this important sector,” Justice Minister Mohammed Al-Eisa said in the statement.

The promotions also increase employment benefits for the judges, he said.