Speaking at a conference organized by the Council as part of its participation in the 29th edition of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) on the theme “the new roles of the CSPJ: achievements and perspectives”, Mr. El Mountassir Billah underlined that the implementation of this project began with the appointment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the members of the Superior Council of the Judicial Power, on April 6, 2017, before taking other steps, the the latest being the establishment of the new structural organization of the Council.
In this sense, the Secretary General of the CSPJ recalled the high concern with which His Majesty the King continues to surround the project aimed at establishing the pillars of the full institutional independence of the judicial power, noting that the roles and missions of the CSPJ are defined by article 113 of the Moroccan Constitution, which stipulates that the Council ensures the application of the guarantees granted to magistrates, in particular with regard to their independence, their appointment, their advancement, their retirement and their discipline.
And to add that the reference framework establishing the roles and responsibilities of the Council is made up, in addition to the Basic Law, of several legal texts, including organic law No. 100.13 relating to the Superior Council of the Judicial Power, as amended and supplemented by organic law No. 13.22, the internal regulations of the Council, Law No. 38.21 relating to the General Inspection of Judicial Affairs, and the decision of the Deputy President of the Council concerning the organization of its administrative and financial structures, as well as the Council’s 2021-2026 strategic plan.
Mr. El Mountassir Billah, in this regard, noted that organic law n°13.22 “contains fundamental amendments aimed at upgrading the structures of the Council, improving the efficiency of its performance and its modes of operation and the supervision of its contribution to the management of judicial matters, while providing it with appropriate legal mechanisms for the preparation of its reports (…) in harmony with its roles and its new attributions”.
For his part, Ahmed Ghazali, member of the CSPJ, affirmed that the Kingdom of Morocco is committed to a societal project aimed at a profound and comprehensive reform of the judicial system, under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King, Guarantor of independence and proper functioning of the judiciary, as an impregnable bulwark for the defense of the rule of law, an essential foundation of judicial security and good governance and a driving force for development.
In his speech, Mr. Ghazali explained that the institutionalization of the independence of the judiciary went through three essential stages, namely the creation stage, the stage of completion and updating of the reference framework and development of working mechanisms, and the stage of strengthening the institutional role of the Council in improving the governance of justice.
For his part, the director general of the Higher Institute of the Judiciary (ISM), Abdelhanine Touzani, focused on the major developments in the structuring and organization of the Superior Council of the Judicial Power, including the revision of the law governing ISM.
In a statement to MAP, Mr. Touzani highlighted the new composition of the Institute which tends to ensure the development of training programs and the promotion of its missions.
The 29th edition of SIEL, which continues until May 19, sees the participation of 743 exhibitors representing 48 countries, with a cultural program including a large number of activities with the participation of authors, intellectuals, creators and Moroccan and foreign poets.