His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met with the president and members of the Higher Judicial Council at Al Husseiniya Palace.

Having an independent, neutral and transparent judiciary is a main pillar in Jordan’s comprehensive reform endeavour, King Abdullah said during the meeting.

The King stressed the judiciary’s role in entrenching the rule of law, protecting citizens’ rights, safeguarding freedoms and bolstering the state’s sovereignty.

Voicing his full support for the judicial authority in its efforts to maintain independence and neutrality and develop its capacities, His Majesty said the judiciary enhances public trust in the state.

The more efficient the judicial authority is, the more citizens trust it and the state, the King noted, expressing his faith in the judiciary and his appreciation of the efforts exerted by all those working in the sector to serve society.

“The way ahead still lies open before us towards more work and achievements,” he said at the meeting, which addressed the challenges facing judicial work.

His Majesty said speeding up litigation procedures requires the development of laws and administration methods, including the opening of specialised courtrooms.

The King also called for continued efforts to improve and develop the judicial authority by employing experienced human resources and building the capacity of judges through specialised training and rehabilitation programmes.

During the meeting, attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and His Majesty’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury, Higher Judicial Council President Hisham Tal gave a briefing on the council’s achievements in safeguarding rights and consolidating the rule of law.