The Moroccan House of Representatives, in a general legislative session held last night, has approved, by majority vote, the draft law No. 01.24 concerning judicial experts. The bill received the support of 80 members of parliament while 34 opposed it, with no members abstaining from voting.
In his introductory speech regarding the legislation, Justice Minister Abdellatif Wahbi emphasized that this legislative text is part of the ongoing efforts to reform the justice system, particularly in relation to the qualification of legal and judicial professions. He stated that these professions play a crucial and fundamental role within the system and contribute directly to achieving judicial efficiency.
The minister explained that the aim of the bill is to revise the current law governing the role of experts, highlighting significant updates concerning registration, the review of the required seniority for the national table of experts, and the emphasis on qualifying legal entities. Additionally, he noted that the bill includes mandatory fundamental training for first-time registered judicial experts, as well as ongoing training as a means to enhance and update legal and professional knowledge.
Furthermore, he highlighted other innovations, mainly the consideration of the expenses incurred during the expertise process and the effort exerted when determining fees. The bill also grants legal protection to experts while establishing civil liability for their professional mistakes and those of their assistants. It mandates that anyone over 70 years old must provide an annual medical certificate to confirm their ability to perform their duties.
The government official added that contemporary developments have led to the emergence of diverse and complex disputes that require technical expertise and the disassembly of intricate crimes, necessitating an improvement in judicial work to establish trust. In response, the majority parties recognized that this legislative text forms a fundamental building block and a crucial entry point for continuing the implementation of justice system reforms in the kingdom. They noted that it addresses an urgent objective need to modernize the legal framework governing the profession, which has proven limited in keeping pace with the profound transformations in the nature of disputes presented in courts.
The parliamentary components commended the qualitative provisions of the bill, particularly the establishment of precise conditions for access and registration, institutionalizing training, and instituting a clear disciplinary and regulatory system that ties responsibility to accountability. They also praised the legislative dynamism and the positive interaction of the government with the proposed amendments.
On the other hand, opposition groups highlighted that reforming this system requires a comprehensive vision that transcends mere organizational approaches to address observed imbalances. They pointed out that judicial experts have become actual partners in judicial decision-making due to the complexity of cases and their scientific and technical dimensions, necessitating a legal framework that enhances the quality of judgments and strengthens litigants' trust.
These groups called for the establishment of binding legal timelines for conducting expertise, coupled with penalties to avoid delays in litigation. They stressed that creating a national body and regional bodies for judicial experts is a pressing and essential demand to institutionalize the profession, unify its standards, and defend the independence of practitioners.
As reported by agadirinfo.ma.
