Abu Dhabi: No distinction between Emiratis and expats is made under UAE law as human rights are granted and not bought, the Minister of Justice Dr. Hadef Bin Jouan Al Dhaheri highlighted, during the Federal Supreme Court’s (FSC) 40th anniversary celebration in the capital today (Monday).
The ceremony included honouring veteran and pioneering Emirati male and female judges and Court officials who helped create the existing constitution and build the fundamental laws carried out by the UAE.
The Supreme Court’s fifth decade will see number of changes that will be made to its administrative and financial situation including an increase in its rate of Emiratisation, and greater specialisation in its fields of law.
“Out of the Federal Court’s 20 judges, only four are UAE nationals as opposed to the Public Prosecution which has a 99 per cent Emiratisation rate,” said Judge Shehab Al Hammadi, head of the Commercial Courts.
Additionally, the Court is also hoping to become more independent from the Ministry of Justice in terms of its ability to hire staff and manage its own budget, officials said.
“A number of new laws, such as those regarding national security, will be re-studied and adjusted according to the developing state of our society. However, it is important to note that this does not mean that current laws are not working,” said Judge Falah Al Hajiri, head of the State Security Court and Personal Affairs Court.
Moreover, the Court is seeking to become more specialised; divert from cases about visas, immigration and the punishment of employees who violate their professional ethics, said Dr. Abdul Wahab Abdool, Chief Justice of the FSC.
Currently, the FSC’s verdicts can all be taken as references in lower courts. Recently, and after the transformation of the Court’s administration from manual to digital, an e-mailing system was set up whereby counsellors and legal officials could gain access to the Court’s weekly verdicts with an explanation of why they were issued.
“Our Court was also the first to call for a meeting with 32 international Supreme Courts to help in the exchange of experience and the enrichment of our legal knowledge in addition to building foreign relationships with other countries,” Al Dhaheri said.
“The UAE FSC is ranked first in the Arab world and 13th worldwide as of 2011,” he added.
Talks are also in place for lowering the recruitment age for judicial officials, and nominating Emiratis from the Court of Appeals, Dr. Abdool revealed.
Known for his mercifulness and empathy with defendants, Judge Al Hammadi advised new comers to have a great sense of patience and give suspects the full right to defend themselves.
“Listen more than you speak, think more than you analyse and this will guarantee true justice to the defendant,” he said.
