Moroccan lawyers returned to courtrooms this week after the government agreed to suspend a disputed draft law regulating the legal profession, easing a standoff that had disrupted judicial proceedings across the country.
The Association of Moroccan Bar Associations said attorneys would resume work starting Monday, Feb. 16, after what it described as a breakthrough following talks with the head of government.
The move followed weeks of strikes and boycotts over a bill promoted by Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi. Lawyers argued that the proposed legislation threatened the independence of the profession.
The draft law would revise the legal framework governing lawyers, including disciplinary procedures, entry requirements and oversight mechanisms. Bar associations said several provisions could expand executive influence over lawyers’ internal affairs and weaken professional autonomy.
In recent weeks, lawyers staged nationwide protests, suspended participation in official meetings with the Justice Ministry and withdrew from court hearings. The actions slowed proceedings in civil, criminal and commercial courts, adding to delays in a judicial system already undergoing broader reforms aimed at improving efficiency and transparency.
Tensions intensified after the Justice Ministry indicated it would submit the bill to parliament despite objections from bar associations, which said they had not been adequately consulted during the drafting process. The associations called for what they described as a “serious and responsible” dialogue to protect core principles, including professional independence, immunity and established rights.
The Association of Moroccan Bar Associations said the head of government decided not to forward the bill to parliament in its current form. Instead, a joint committee will be formed under his supervision to reexamine the draft.
The committee is expected to hold its first meeting Friday. While the bill has not been withdrawn, lawyers welcomed its suspension as a preliminary step toward resolving the dispute.
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