His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed that developing the judiciary is a top national priority and the key factor in entrenching principles of justice and equality.

“We will not be able to advance Jordan and upgrade it economically, socially and politically unless the judiciary is enhanced,” King Abdullah said during a meeting with the Higher Judicial Council (HJC) at the Palace of Justice.

Stressing his full support and pride in the judiciary, the King said there is a lot to do in order to enhance the judiciary.

King Abdullah said that clear measures should be adopted to enhance the independence of the judiciary in the next stage.

His Majesty also said a plan should be set to accelerate legal procedures and adopt clear standards to select judges based on experience, competence and honesty.

In April, the HJC referred to the King its annual report, which included major challenges facing the judiciary as well as future plans. Currently, there are 686 judges, including 32 female judges, in the country.

The Jordan Times