Supreme Constitutional Court of Syria

Highest Judicial Court of Syria

Supreme Constitutional Court of Syria

المحكمة الدستورية العليا
Established| 1973
Jurisdiction| Syrian Arab Republic
Location| Damascus
Composition method| Presidential appointment
Authorised by| Syrian Constitution
Judge term length| renewable terms of four-years
Number of positions| 11
Language| Arabic
President of the Supreme Court
Currently| Mohammad Jihad al-Laham
Since| 8 May 2018

Politics of Syria

Member State of the Arab League

* * *

Constitution

Human rights

Executive

* President (list)

Vacant
* Vice President

Vacant
* Prime Minister (list)

Mohammed al-Bashir
* Deputy Prime Minister

Vacant

Legislature

* People's Assembly

Speaker: Vacant

Judiciary

* High Judicial Council
* Supreme Constitutional Court

Subdivisions

* Governorates
* Districts
* Subdistricts (Nahiyas)
* Villages

Elections

* Recent elections

* Presidential: 2007
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* Parliamentary: 2016
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Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates

Minister: Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani

* * *

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* Other countries

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The Supreme Constitutional Court (Arabic: المحكمة الدستورية العليا, Al-Mahkamah al-Dustūrīyah al-‘Ulyā) was the highest jurisdictional authority in Syria.

## History

[edit]

The Supreme Court was established under the Syrian Constitution of 1973 to adjudicate electoral disputes, rule on the constitutionality of a law or decree challenged by the prime minister or People's Council, and to render opinions on the constitutionality of bills, decrees, and regulations when requested to do so by the prime minister.

The High Constitutional Court is forbidden, however, to question the validity of the popularly approved "laws submitted by the President of the Republic to popular referendums." The court consists of the president and four judges he appoints to serve a renewable term of four years.[1]

## Composition

[edit]

The Supreme Court consists of its president called the President of the Supreme Court and 10 ordinary member judges.[2] Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President.

Syrian Constitution of 2012 declares the judiciary independent, and assigns the President (and the Supreme Judicial Council, which the President heads) as the protector of judicial independence (Arts. 132-133).[3]

The Supreme Constitutional Court was extended from five members to at least seven members, but all are still appointed by presidential decree (Art. 141).[3] Constitutional Court members continue to serve four-year renewable terms (Art. 143).[3]

### Current membership (May 2022)

[edit]

* The President of the Supreme Court: Mr. Justice Mohammad Jihad al-Laham[4]
* Mr. Justice Raslan Ali Trabelsi[3]
* Mr. Justice Malik Kamal Sharaf[3]
* Mrs. Justice Jamila Muslim Al-Sharbaji[3]
* Mr. Justice Dr. Saeed Abdel Wahid Nahaili[3]
* Mr. Justice Mutasim Skeiker[3]
* Mr. Justice Majid Rashid Khadra[3]
* Mr. Justice Faris Melhem Sattouf[3]
* Mr. Justice Abdel Salam Shehadeh[3]
* Mr. Justice Wissam Badie Yazbek[3]
* Mrs. Justice Maisa Anwar Al-Mahrous[3][5]

## Competences

[edit]

* Deciding the constitutionality of laws and regulations[6]
* Delivering opinions on the constitutionality of draft laws and legislative decrees upon request by the President[6]
* Supervising presidential elections[6]
* Considering challenges to presidential and legislative elections[6]
* Trying the President in the case of high treason[6]
* Constitutional review over laws passed by referendum[6]
* Expressing opinions on the constitutionality of draft laws upon request [6]

## See also

[edit]

* Judiciary of Syria
* High Judicial Council
* Syrian Constitution
* Syrian Constitution of 1973

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Country Studies: Syria, Library of Congress This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. ^ موقع الاستعلام الالكتروني للخدمات الحكومية
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "President al-Assad issues a decree appointing the President of the Supreme Constitutional Court Muhammad Jihad al-Lahham and appointing its other members". Syrian Arab News Agency. 12 May 2021.
4. ^ "Syria's Supreme Constitutional Court Finalizes List of Candidates for Presidential Election". Asharq Al-Awsat. 12 May 2021.
5. ^ "الرئيس الأسد يصدر مرسوماً بتجديد تسمية رئيس و6 أعضاء في المحكمة الدستورية العليا وتسمية 4 أعضاء جدد". SANA. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
6. ^ a b c d e f g "Country–Syria". p. constitutionniet.org. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

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