Justice Minister Highlights Means to Modernize Judicial System

Minister of Justice, Mohamed Ben Abdelkader, said, Monday in Casablanca, that the modernization of the national judicial system hinges on the efficient mobilization of qualified human resources and the increased use of new technologies.

“It would be pointless to speak of judicial efficiency and modernization of the entire system if we do not have an administration based on efficient human resources and new technologies, so as to optimize the rules of good governance in this sector,” the minister pointed out at a debate on “the governance of the judicial administration”, organized by the Higher Institute of Political, Legal and Social Sciences (ISPJS) of Mundiapolis University.

The development of the missions of the judicial administration cannot be done without ensuring transparency and efficiency, implementing accountability mechanisms, meeting the expectations of litigants and placing them at the heart of the concerns of this institution, he added.

The minister noted that the judicial administration must break with “the dominant culture” because the courts, as a space to exercise judicial power and deliver judgments, are also public establishments serving, in addition to litigants, users in need of administrative services.

The courts “will have to undergo a qualitative transformation in the future” in particular as regards the modernization, the digitization and the improvement of the services, the aim being to ensure good governance as it is the case for other public services, the official stressed.

Referring to the current situation in the management of judicial affairs, Ben Abdelkader recalled the existence of legal references and institutions whose mission is to ensure the independence of the judiciary, including the Higher Council of the Judiciary.

During this meeting, several issues were discussed, including the nature of the expected Penal Code, the means to bring courts closer to citizens, the role of mediation and arbitration, the promotion of human resources, the strengthening of skills and the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the adoption of remote trials, which remains an asset to be preserved and optimized in the future.