They argued that the reforms would weaken the role of defence attorneys
Around 5,000 lawyers gathered in Rabat, Morocco, to protest a series of judicial reforms proposed by the Moroccan government, which they argued would weaken the role of defence attorneys and undermine the integrity of the justice system.
JURISTnews reported that the reforms target key aspects of Morocco’s Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code. Lawyers claimed the changes violate essential legal principles by reducing their involvement in critical stages of legal proceedings. One of the most contentious issues is a set of procedural adjustments that would limit the role of defence attorneys in civil and criminal cases. Protesters argued these measures threaten defendants' rights to adequate legal representation, raising concerns about the fairness of trials.
Elhoussain Iziani, president of the Moroccan Bar Association, voiced strong opposition to several provisions of the reforms, particularly those in the Code of Civil Procedure, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Penal Code. Among the concerns is a provision that allows the prosecution to retry cases that have already been judged. Iziani warned that this could open the door to manipulating judicial decisions, weakening the rule of law.
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Other significant concerns include a mandate allowing for the replacement of defense lawyers and removing the right to appeal cases below a certain financial threshold in the Court of Cassation. Additionally, for cases of even lower value, the reforms would prohibit filing an appeal altogether, which critics argue could restrict access to justice for lower-income individuals.
The protest was driven by a growing sense of crisis within the legal profession, with some lawyers even considering the possibility of a strike to press the government into reconsidering the proposed reforms.
Iziani urged the government to carefully supervise the implementation of the laws and address the concerns of legal professionals, stressing that the integrity of Morocco’s justice system is at stake.
