Judicial System

Judicial System in Saudi Arabia
judicial rulings issued by courts of first instance are
subject to appeal except minor cases as identified and
determined by the Supreme Judicial Council. Subjecting
the rulings of the first instance courts to appeal before
the appeal courts will no doubt control rulings under one
umbrella with stable and consistent guiding principles,
so if things occur to the contrary, such rulings will be
overruled in whole or in part. The third step of litigation
i.e. the Supreme Court is the basic pillar that achieves
unity of rulings and non-variances when facts of
respective cases are similar. The aggrieved party may
apply for overruling a ruling before the Supreme Court
whenever the reasons for appeal are:
a) conflicting the provisions of Sharia or laws
issued by competent authorities not in conflict
with Sharia;
b) rulings issued by courts not properly formed as
prescribed by law;
c) rulings issued by incompetent court or circuit;
d) mistakes in framing issues of the dispute or
improperly describing thos issues.
According to this article, the Supreme Court shall ascertain
proper making of rulings by ensuring proper framing of
issues/ facts and none is in conflict with the established
judicial principles and rules. This method guarantees
consistency of rulings, so if there are any variances in any
step of litigation such will be redressed at the appeal stage,
and if need requires, this will be rectified at the Supreme
Court.
243