Judiciary of Bahrain

The judiciary of Bahrain is a system of three courts that interpret and apply the laws of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Namely, these three courts are the Civil Courts, Sharia Courts, and Criminal Courts. Civil Courts have jurisdiction to adjudicate all commercial, civil, and administrative disputes, as well disputes related to the personal status and domestic relations of non-Muslims. The Sharia Courts, which apply Sharia law, have jurisdiction over all aspects of the personal status of Muslims. Criminal Courts have the jurisdiction to deal with criminal matters.[1]

Each of these three courts have lower and high courts, whose judges are nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council and appointed by decree by the King of Bahrain. The Supreme Judicial Council, chaired by the King, appoints the members of the Constitutional Court.[2] To secure renewal of these positions, judges may be prone to consider it necessary to take decisions not unfavourable to the wishes or interests of the Government.[3]

  1. ^ Ali, Durra Al (2023-10-19). "Bahrain: Outline of the Court System and Jurisdiction of the Courts". CRS. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  2. ^ "Country Theme: Judiciary: Bahrain". UNDP-Programme on Governance in the Arab Region. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  3. ^ "Attacks on Justice 2002 - Bahrain" (PDF). International Commission of Jurists. 22 August 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2012.