Lawyers paralyze Moroccan courts in September

Lawyers in Morocco are preparing to step up their protest movement against the draft civil procedure law currently being examined in parliament. The movement, initiated by the Moroccan Bar Association (ABM), aims to counter what they see as a threat to lawyers’ rights and justice.

Escalation of the protest movement

The ABM has unveiled a mobilization program that includes strong actions across all the country’s bar associations. These actions, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, include gatherings in front of the courts, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., as well as the continued wearing of protest badges on their lawyers’ robes. This protest schedule was developed following the first demonstration held on July 27, 2024 in front of the Parliament in Rabat, a demonstration of unity and determination by lawyers in the face of what they consider to be attacks on their profession.

Meeting in Rabat, ABM members confirmed that this program could evolve based on consultations with other stakeholders in the profession. Their demands are numerous, but one of the key points remains their opposition to the new civil procedure law, recently adopted by the House of Representatives.

Lawyers angry over new law

The civil procedure bill, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is awaiting review by the House of Advisors, is seen by lawyers as an attempt to marginalize their role in the Moroccan judicial system. According to them, this law threatens to reduce their prerogatives and jeopardize the rights of citizens in the justice system.

ABM President Hussein Zini expressed deep concern over the situation, saying that the reform “goes against the fundamental principles of justice and the constitution.” He also stressed that the ongoing legislative process contains “glaring errors” that do not take into account the contributions of legal professionals.

In addition to their concerns about the civil procedure bill, Moroccan lawyers are also unhappy with the government’s handling of the criminal procedure bill, currently under discussion in parliament.

Further protest measures planned

In addition to the planned demonstrations, the ABM announced that it will organize a major national gathering in Rabat on September 21, 2024, which will be attended by emblematic figures from the legal and political world. In addition, a national conference dedicated to the criminal procedure law will be held in Marrakech on October 18, 2024.

The ABM reaffirmed its willingness to defend the constitutional rights of lawyers and citizens with “all available legal means.” Lawyers are determined to fight against what they perceive as an existential threat to their profession and to Moroccan justice as a whole.

In conclusion, this mobilization marks a decisive step in the relationship between Moroccan lawyers and the government, and it could have major repercussions on the functioning of the judicial system in the months to come.

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