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COUNCIL OF JUDGES BEGINS WORK AGAIN IN IRAQ

Baghdad, Iraq...October 4, 2003 -- Iraq's newly reestablished Council of Judges began its work in Baghdad today.

The Council, a sign of Iraq's new judicial independence, will supervise Iraq's judicial and prosecutorial systems. The Council will investigate allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence, take necessary disciplinary or administrative actions and nominate lawyers to fill judicial and prosecutorial vacancies.

The Council will operate independently of the Ministry of Justice.

"The Council of Judges assures the independence of the judiciary, away from any interference by any authority in the judicial or prosecutorial affairs," said Judge Mithat Al-Mahmood, Supreme Court Chief Justice and President of the Council. "This Council is based on democracy."

The Council was first established in 1963, but was abolished by the former regime in 1979.

"The reestablishment of the Council of Judges is a clear indicator of judicial independence and represents a turning point in Iraqi judicial history which suffered from intrusion in its affairs by the past authorities," said Judge Al-Mahmood.

In addition to the chief justice, the Council consists of the deputy chief justices of the Supreme Court, the director-general of the State Council Assembly, the director-general of the Office of Public Prosecution, the director-general of the Legal Supervision Office, the director-general of administration and the presidents of the appellate courts.