Morocco Bans Family Ties in Courts to Combat Nepotism in Judicial System

The judicial authority has declared war on this practice that undermines the Moroccan justice system and sometimes leaves room for nepotism, reports Al Massae, which specifies that all the presidents of the Courts of Appeal and the King’s Prosecutors are now instructed to put an end to it.

The note from the president specifies the provisions of Article 24 of the law on the judicial organization of the Kingdom, which stipulates that "spouses, relatives and in-laws up to the degree of uncle or nephew inclusive cannot be simultaneously magistrates of the same jurisdiction."

However, the press release recalls, exceptions may derogate from the rule, but only through a waiver granted by "decision of the superior council of the magistracy when the jurisdiction includes more than one chamber or if this jurisdiction sits in a single direction and provided that one of the spouses, relatives or in-laws referred to above is not one of the heads of the jurisdiction."

Moreover, in no case, even if the waiver is granted, "the spouses, relatives or in-laws referred to in the previous paragraph may sit in the same case," continues Abdennabaoui.

In strict compliance with this new provision of the Higher Council of the Judiciary, an affidavit form on family ties will be sent to the judges of the courts of first instance, the Courts of Appeal and the judicial centers, to be filled out no later than July 9.