Judges, Assembly members debate constitutional role of Egypt's judiciary

Judicial representatives held a second meeting on Monday with members of Egypt's Constituent Assembly  tasked with writing a new national charter – to discuss the chapter in Egypt's draft constitution devoted to judicial authority. The judicial figures who attended the meeting included representatives of Egypt's High Constitutional Court (HCC), the Supreme Judicial Council and the State Council, among others. Monday's meeting was the second of its kind between judicial representatives and Constituent Assembly members. The first meeting was held on Sunday in an effort to end the ongoing debate over the role of Egypt's judiciary in the draft constitution. The HCC has already declared its rejection of the draft constitutional articles related to the court's role and function. At Sunday's meeting, members of Egypt's Judges Club presented Constituent Assembly members with their recommendations. Judges tabled ten amendments to the draft articles related to the judiciary with the stated aim of ensuring judicial independence. The Judges Club, headed by Judge Ahmed El-Zend, also suggested that four articles of the draft charter be done away with. From Ahramonline