Mirza’s Tenure Ends in July as Qortbawi Seeks Consensus over Successor
Justice Minister Shaqib Qortbawi revealed on Wednesday that he is at the stage of processing the names of the judges that are qualified to succeed General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza.
“I hope that we will not witness any dispute over the names,” Qortbawi told al-Joumhouria newspaper.
Mirza’s tenure ends on July 30.
Qortbawi urged officials to find consensus over the names of the candidates that will be appointed in the posts of the head of the Higher Judicial Council and the General Prosecutor.
On Tuesday, President Michel Suleiman approved a decree referred by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and drafted by Qortbawi to appoint five judges to the Higher Judicial Council as the tenure of the current members ended.
The appointed judges are Jospeh Samaha, Marie Denise al-Meouchi, Rida Raad, Oussama al-Lahham, and Mirna Bayda for three non-renewable years.
The HJC is formed of 10 members in which the head of the council, the General Prosecutor and the head of the Judicial Inspection Board are appointed by a decree issued by the cabinet.
Two of the remaining seven are chosen by the members of the Court of Cassation, and the remaining five are appointed by the justice minister and approved by the president without necessarily consulting the government.
However, sharp differences between Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun have prevented the cabinet from making the appointment of the head of the HJC.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/42584 |