Direct Individual Access to the Constitutional Judiciary: A Comparative Study of Iraqi and Kuwaiti Laws

Shatha Ahmad Al-Assaf

doi:10.35516/law.v50i1.982

Authors

Shatha Ahmad Al-Assaf Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Isra University, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1327-0427

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/law.v50i1.982

Keywords:

Constitution, individual access, judicial oversight, constitutional judiciary, direct access

Abstract

Objectives: A few Arab constitutions have adopted direct individual access to the constitutional judiciary, most notably the Kuwaiti and Iraqi constitutions. This study aims to show how Kuwaiti and Iraqi laws regulate the requirements and procedures for individual access to the constitutional judiciary. It also aims to identify the best regulation for direct individual access to the constitutional judiciary.

Methods: The study adopted the analytical and comparative method by conducting comparative analyses to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the legal texts covering direct individual access in the Kuwaiti and Iraqi constitutions, laws, and regulations.

Results: Kuwaiti and Iraqi law made sure to organize individuals’ right to direct individual access by imposing certain requirements and clarifying the related procedures to prevent the constitutional judiciary from being overburdened with complaints. However, there is a need for better legal regulation for individual access to the constitutional judiciary by amending some requirements concerning the bail amount, legal representation, and procedures.

Conclusions: There is incompetency in legally regulating direct individual access to the constitutional judiciary in Kuwait and Iraq. Kuwaiti and Iraqi laws should be amended to avoid impeding access to constitutional justice, which will develop the constitutional judiciary in Kuwait and Iraq to be able to carry out its duties in overseeing the constitutionality of laws and regulations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abbas, A. & AL Mamouri, S. (2018). Judicial Control Over the Constitutionality of Laws: Comparative analysis study. Journal of University of Babylon for Humanities, 26(7), 648-664. Retrieved from: https://www.journalofbabylon.com/index.php/JUBH/article/view/1763/1384

Abu Maree, H. & Shehab, A. (2021). The Right of Individuals to Contest the Unconstitutionality of Laws in Palestinian Legislation. Journal of legal studies, 7(1), 147-166. Retrieved from: https://www.asjp.cerist.dz/en/downArticle/318/7/1/140722.

Adrido, Y. (2017). The System of Filtering Requests of Pleading for Unconstitutionality in Moroccan Law. Al-Manara Journal of Legal and Administrative Studies, 17, 180-189.

Al-Hamida, K. (2020). The Legislative Development of Individuals’ Constitutional Challenge before the Kuwaiti Constitutional Court. Submitted to the Conference on Developing Litigation Systems and Modernizing Rules of Evidence, 22 December 2020, Oman, Sultan Qaboos University.

Al-Hilali, A. (2018). Sections explaining the subjectivity of the condition of interest in filing the constitutional case, a comparative analytical study. Cairo: The Arab Center for Studies and Scientific Research for Publishing and Distribution.

Al-Kandari, A. (2020). Requirements of Direct Constitutional Control in Kuwait in the Light of Amendment to Law of Constitutional Court Establishment No. (109) for 2014. Journal of Law, Kuwait University, 44(4), 205-250.

Al-Khafaji, S. (2009). Judicial Oversight on the Constitutionality of Laws in Iraqi Constitutions. Ahl al-Bayt Journal, 8, 315-345.Retrieved from: https://abu.edu.iq/sites/default/files/research/journals/ahl-al-bayt/issues/8/170624-121649.pdf

Al-Khatib, N. & Al-Khatib, R. (2021). Constitutional Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Jordan. AAU Journal of Business and Law, 5(1), 54-80. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.51958/AAUJBL2021V5I1P3.

Al-Khatib, N. (2017). The Simple Guide in the Jordanian Constitutional System. Amman: Dar Al-Thaqafa for Publishing and Distribution.

Al-Khatib, N. (2018). Intermediate Guide in Political Systems and Constitutional Law. Amman: Dar Al-Thaqafa for Publishing and Distribution.

Al–Mutairi, M. (2019). The Right to go directly to the Constitutional Court of Kuwait after the Issuance of Law 109/201–Analytical Study. Appl Sci Uni J, 3(2), 105-127. Retrieved from: http://www.naturalspublishing.com/files/published/1z2c1fyp6m04u2.pdf

Al-Saleh, O. A. (2003). The Constitutional System and Political Institutions in Kuwait Part One. Kuwait: Dar Al-Kutob Foundation.

Al-Tabtabaee, A. (2012). A shift in the Kuwaiti Constitutional Court’s concept of direct appeal: a comparative study. Journal of Law, Kuwait University, 36(2), 15-46.

Atiya, M. (2017). The right of individuals to challenge the unconstitutionality. UOB Journal for Laws and Politics, 9 (4), 641-668. Retrieved from: https://iasj.net/iasj/download/b47ba3054db726a6

Badir, N. (2017). The Judicial Control on the Constitutionality of Laws. Birzeit: Constitutional Law Unit, Faculty of Law and Public Administration, Birzeit University.

Bouresli, A. (2016). The Constitutional Court of Kuwait According to the Latest Legislative Amendments. Journal of the Kuwait International Law School, 4(13), 19-53. Retrieved from: https://journal.kilaw.edu.kw/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/The-Constitutional-Court-of-Kuwait-According-to-the-Latest-Legislative-Amendments.pdf

Decision issued by the Consulting Chamber regarding direct appeal No. 2 of 2020 dated 24/2/2021. (2020). In Kuwaiti Constitutional Court website. Retrieved from http://www.cck.moj.gov.kw

Decisions issued by Federal Supreme Court of Iraq. (2022). In Federal Supreme Court of Iraq website. Retrieved from https://www.iraqfsc.iq/ethadai.php.

Gentili, G. (2012). A comparison of European systems of direct access to constitutional judges: exploring advantages for the Italian Constitutional Court. Italian Journal of Public Law, 4 (1), 159-208. Retrieved from: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/57091/

Hamad, A. (2019). The historical development of the federal Supreme Court in Iraq according to the legal legislation issued. Journal of Arabian Sciences Heritage, 1(40), 467-492. Retrieved from: https://www.iasj.net/iasj/download/6d362f7b53ed0f58

Hamid, R. (2017). Procedures for instituting direct constitutional proceedings under the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq for 2005. AL-ANBAR University Journal of Law and Political Sciences, 2 (13), 242-275. Retrieved from: https://www.iasj.net/iasj/download/70f64ab57e22a20a

Issa, H. (2020). Oversight of the constitutionality of laws under the Iraqi constitution of 2005. Journal of The Iraqi University, 47 (3), 498-513.

Salman, A. (2014). Constitutional litigation. Justice and Law, 23, 419–452.

Shatnawi, F. & Hatamleh, S. (2013). Judicial Oversight on the Constitutionality of Laws and Regulations before the Constitutional Court in Jordan. Dirasat: Shari'a and Law Sciences, 40(2), 617-634. Retrieved from: https://journals.ju.edu.jo/DirasatLaw/article/view/5484/3484

Technical Office of the Constitutional Court (2015). Collection of Judgments and Decisions issued by the Constitutional Court during the period from January 2009 to December 2015, Volume VI, Part One. Kuwait: Technical Office of the Constitutional Court.

Technical Office of the Constitutional Court (2015). Collection of Judgments Issued in Appeals Before the Appeals Examination Committee of the Constitutional Court during the period from January 2009 to December 2015, Volume VI, Part Two. Kuwait: Technical Office of the Constitutional Court.

Venice Commission, Study on Individual access to constitutional justice adopted by the Venice Commission at its 85th Plenary Session (Venice, 17-18 December 2010), Strasbourg, 27 January 2011, Study N° 538 / 2009, CDL-AD (2010)039rev. (2010). In Venice Commission (European Commission for Democracy through Law). Retrieved from http://www.venice.coe.int.

Zaanoun, A. (2019). Citizens' access to constitutional justice and its role in the protection of rights and freedoms in Morocco. Jil Journal of Human Rights, 6 (36), 11-33.