Minister of Justice, Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait, announced the start of Kuwaitization of the “court bailiff” position, which had previously been restricted to non-Kuwaitis, after its title was amended to “Coordinator of Judicial Sessions.” The move comes as part of a broader plan to nationalize support roles in the judiciary and strengthen Kuwaiti representation across the legal system.
Speaking on the sidelines of an inspection tour at Kuwait University during the Public Prosecution admission exams, Al-Sumait confirmed that 1,295 Kuwaiti men and women sat for the tests, which were conducted using a fully electronic system developed by the Kuwait Institute for Judicial Studies in cooperation with the university. He said candidates receive their results immediately after completing the exam, with no human intervention in the marking process, in a step aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency and governance, reports Al-Rai daily.
Al-Sumait revealed that the percentage of expatriates in the Public Prosecution has declined from 20 percent to 17 percent as of October 1, stressing that the Kuwaitization plan will continue gradually until 2030, in line with the government’s strategy to fully nationalize the judicial sector.
He noted that two batches of applicants who had been waiting for two years were included in the current exams, and that admissions will now be opened annually. “We are preparing national cadres to replace outgoing expatriate judges and prosecutors. The sons of Kuwait are fully capable of managing this vital institution with competence and merit,” he said.
The minister disclosed that applications are currently being reviewed for the newly opened Coordinator of Judicial Sessions role, describing it as one of the last remaining support positions yet to be fully Kuwaitized. He also announced that the position of session secretary has been opened to women for the first time, highlighting the growing presence of Kuwaiti women in the judiciary, including as judges, prosecutors and senior officials.
He praised the appointment of Awatif Al-Sanad as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and her membership in the Supreme Judicial Council, calling it a historic milestone.
Al-Sumait confirmed that the committee tasked with reviewing legislation has completed the draft of a new Economic Courts Law, aimed at accelerating the resolution of commercial disputes and investor cases. He said the lack of specialized courts with tailored procedures had been a major weakness, contributing to lengthy litigation.
Other committees, he added, are working on a comprehensive overhaul of the Penal Code, which has not been fully amended since 1970, the Code of Criminal Procedures and Trials dating back to the 1960s, and the insurance system, including motor, property and project insurance, to create a faster and more effective legal framework.
He also announced a full review of the Civil Service Law, noting that current provisions do not adequately protect the rights of either employers or employees. Academic and legal experts, including Professor Anwar Al-Fuzai of Kuwait University, have been consulted to develop improved formulations.
The minister said the national plan to modernize the legislative system aims to review 25 percent of existing laws. Of Kuwait’s 983 laws, 201 have already been reviewed, with a target of 250 by next December. “The pace of work is faster than scheduled,” he said, crediting joint committees that include judges, prosecutors, government officials and public interest groups.
Al-Sumait stressed that the ultimate goal is to shorten litigation periods from years to weeks or months. “Justice delayed is injustice. Many disputes should be resolved through simplified procedures or specialized committees before reaching the courts,” he said, citing issues such as flight delays and lost luggage as examples of cases that should be settled quickly without burdening citizens.
