Jordanian house passes judiciary independence draft law

The Lower House on Sunday endorsed the 2014 judiciary independence draft law that extends a senior judge's service until the age of 74, and also ordered the formation of a panel on judicial conduct.
A key article in the bill, passed during a session chaired by Speaker Atef Tarawneh and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, stipulates that a judge of a senior rank should stay in service until the age of 74, which was disputed by some lawmakers who demanded the reduction of the age category.
Ensour backed the 74-year age limit, citing a severe shortage of judges and arguing that any age reduction means the prompt retirement of dozens of judges and would lead to a "vacuum and a great shortage" of judges and eventually put the judiciary in a difficult situation.
The legislature backed down from an earlier decision on the election of four judges as members of the Judicial Council after lawmakers presented a memo demanding revisiting the article governing the formation of the council.
Also, among other provisions, the bill ordered the formation of a committee that will draft a code of judicial conduct, the setting up of a solidarity fund for judges and Ministry of Justice staff, and streamlined judges' vacations.
Lawmakers will hold an evening session today to take up other draft legislation.