SAUDI JUDICIAL REFORMS TO START ON 1 JAN 09 - DAILY

Saudi Arabian judicial reforms commenced, with the process to bring about structural and procedural changes expected to take 20 years, according to Minister of Justice Shaykh Abdullah Aal Al-Shiekh.
"This is only the beginning of the overhaul plan and there will be more future reform plans," he said. A budget of nearly SR7 billion has been allocated for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Project for Developing the Judicial System. The project entails developing new court systems, building new courts and training judges. A new Supreme Court -to replace the existing Higher Judicial Council -will be tasked with execution of Islamic Shariah laws and monitoring compliance, and reviewing death penalties handed down by Appeals Courts.
The King will appoint the head of the Supreme Court. Judges' salaries, appointments and other administrative matters will come under the purview of the Judicial Council.
Also, there will be specialized courts for commercial, labour, and personal status cases.