Egyptian head judge reduces responsiblity

Head of the Cairo Court of Appeal Abdel Moez Ibrahim has decided to relinquish his judicial powers pertaining to the formation of judicial departments. He will however retain his other powers in the Supreme Judicial Council and his membership of the presidential elections commission. Ibrahim has been harshly criticised for his handling of the NGOs foreign funding case, which included 19 US defendants who were later allowed to leave. Ibrahim announced his decision during the emergency assembly that was called for by a number of counselors of the Courts of Appeal. It is expected that his former duties will be assumed by a committee consisting of three counselors in the Court of Appeal, and his position as the head of the Court of Appeal will be kept until he reaches retirement.