Posted on 11/20/2003 5:57:42 PM PST by Pikamax
100 judges sacked
Baghdad, Iraq Press, November 21, 2003 – The Justice Ministry has sacked 100 judges who preserved their posts in the aftermath of the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The layoff is the largest purge in the judicial system since Iraq emerged as a state in 1920.
The judges were removed from office for “making legal errors during their service under the former regime,” Justice Minister Hashem al-Shibli told Iraq Press.
The judiciary, like other branches of government under Saddam Hussein, was plagued with bribery and massive violations of human rights.
The judges say they had no choice but to apply the laws Saddam Hussein decreed no matter how oppressive they saw them.
Standing against Saddam was unthinkable and almost always led to execution, they say.
Saddam ruled by decree and imposed horrendous punishment on anyone disobeying his orders.
However, the new interim authorities have pledged to purge the judicial system of judges associated with the former regime.
Iraqi courts are up and running and are currently handling scores of cases referred to them by the newly formed Iraqi police force and the occupation forces.
Shibli, the justice minister, said the decision to give the 100 judges the sack was taken by an investigation committee consisting of two independent magistrates, a lawyer and three other members from the US-le coalition occupying Iraq.
However, he said, the sacked judges have the right to appeal the decision at an appeal court.
The ministry is bound to review its decision if the appeal court does not uphold its decision, he said.
The minister did not say whether the sacking of so many judges will harm the current court proceedings already with a backlog of cases.
Fine honest men -- even legal students -- to sit as judges in Iraq and give the Iraqi people a way to vote judges out of office.
Been watching a little Monty Python eh?
Shibli, the justice minister, said the decision to give the 100 judges the sack was taken by an investigation committee consisting of two independent magistrates, a lawyer and three other members from the US-led coalition occupying Iraq.
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Iraqi judges get off easy.
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