Minister of Justice Bassam Talhouni said Jordan is pursuing an integrated process to modernize its legislative and judicial system, including the development of legislation, procedures, services, infrastructure and human resources, in line with the Kingdom’s modernization efforts and rapid social, economic and technological changes.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement marking World Law Day, Talhouni said the law is not merely a set of rigid provisions, but a system that regulates society, protects rights and freedoms, provides an environment conducive to stability, development and investment, and strengthens citizens’ confidence in state institutions.
He said the essence of legal modernization is to shift from viewing the law as a tool for addressing problems after they occur to considering it an instrument capable of anticipating changes and contributing to a more just, efficient and stable future.
Talhouni stressed that citizens must remain at the center of the legislative and reform process, noting that the quality of legislation should not be measured solely by the precision of its wording, but also by its ability to achieve its intended purpose and improve people’s lives.
He said government institutions’ responsibility does not end with issuing legislation, but extends to ensuring its effective implementation and enabling citizens to benefit from its impact.
The minister noted that, when reviewing legislation, the ministry considers whether laws continue to address the needs for which they were enacted, their compatibility with the Constitution and other legislation, the protection of rights and freedoms, their economic and social impact, their applicability, and their ability to address future developments.
He explained that rapid changes require lawmakers to rethink how legislation is drafted so that it can address potential future developments, particularly as patterns of work, trade, investment, communication and social relations are changing rapidly, while technology and artificial intelligence are creating new areas that had not previously been considered.
Talhouni said forward-looking legislation requires early identification of emerging changes, drawing on legal, economic, social and technological studies, involving stakeholders in legislative discussions, and developing tools to assess the impact of laws before and after implementation.
He said legislative impact assessment should form part of the law’s life cycle, meaning that lawmakers should ask not only “What will the text say?” but also “What will happen when the text is implemented?”
The minister stressed that developing the legislative framework does not necessarily mean changing all existing laws, but rather reviewing them systematically to ensure that they remain capable of achieving their objectives. Some legislation may require updating due to changing social, economic and technological circumstances, while other laws may need to be reorganized or revised to eliminate conflicts and overlaps.
He emphasized that a stable legal environment is essential for strengthening public and investor confidence, but stability should not mean rigidity. A sustainable legal framework, he said, must be flexible enough to adapt to changes without losing clarity.
Talhouni also highlighted the importance of improving the quality of legislation by strengthening coordination among government institutions and ensuring consistency between laws, regulations and instructions. He stressed the need to draw on economic, social, technological and technical expertise, particularly when drafting legislation governing specialized and rapidly changing sectors.
He added that involving the private sector, trade unions, civil society organizations, academics, experts and other stakeholders in discussions on draft laws can enrich the legislative process and help identify potential impacts before legislation is adopted.
Digital Transformation
On digital transformation, Talhouni said technology has become an essential component of judicial development and that the ministry is working to use it to reengineer procedures, simplify services and reduce time, effort and costs.
He said the goal of digitalization is not merely to convert paper-based transactions into electronic ones, but to rethink the citizen’s entire journey in obtaining a service, making it easier, faster and more transparent.
He added that the development of electronic services, remote trials, electronic archiving, digital signatures and online judicial services represents progress toward a more efficient justice system.
“The next phase requires moving from digitizing procedures to reengineering them, eliminating unnecessary steps and linking services and data in a way that allows citizens to obtain services with the fewest possible procedures,” he said.
AI and the Justice System
Regarding artificial intelligence, Talhouni said the technology raises new questions for lawmakers concerning liability, privacy, data protection, digital rights, electronic evidence and decisions based on intelligent systems.
He stressed the importance of balancing the benefits of AI and encouraging innovation with the protection of rights and freedoms and respect for the rule of law.
The justice system, he added, must prepare for rapid technological developments not only by updating legislation, but also by developing the skills of those working in the judicial sector and enhancing their ability to handle modern evidence and technological tools.
Justice and Investment
On the economic front, Talhouni said stable and clear legislation and the swift resolution of disputes have become key factors in countries’ competitiveness and their ability to attract investment.
Investors, he said, seek a clear legal environment in which they can understand their rights and obligations and access effective mechanisms to protect their interests and resolve disputes.
He highlighted the importance of developing legislation governing arbitration and dispute-resolution mechanisms, noting that the 2026 Arbitration Law, including the establishment of the Jordan International Arbitration Center, represents a move toward providing more efficient and flexible mechanisms for resolving disputes and strengthening the legal environment for business and investment.
He said developing the economic justice system benefits not only investors, but also the national economy, citizens, employment and economic growth.
Access to Justice
On access to justice, Talhouni stressed that a citizen’s financial situation should not prevent them from exercising their right to litigation and defending their rights. He underscored the importance of providing legal assistance to eligible groups.
Access to justice, he explained, goes beyond the existence of courts and laws. It also includes citizens’ ability to understand their rights, access services, obtain legal assistance when needed and know the procedures they must follow.
The ministry is working to develop access-to-justice tools, simplify procedures and expand electronic services, he said, making justice more accessible to citizens.
He stressed that the success of judicial modernization should not be measured by the number of electronic systems launched or laws amended, but by the impact citizens experience in their daily lives.
“Citizens should feel the results of modernization in the time it takes to complete their transactions, the costs they bear and the number of procedures they have to go through, as well as in the ease with which they can access information and services,” he said.
Talhouni also highlighted the need to invest in human resources, noting that those working within the justice system require continuous development of their legal and technological skills, particularly as technology and AI become integrated into various stages of judicial work.
He stressed the importance of training on new legislation and its implementation, the use of electronic systems and modern tools, and strengthening the ability of judges, lawyers, employees and other justice-sector professionals to meet the demands of modern justice.
Rule of Law
Regarding the rule of law, Talhouni said confidence in laws and institutions cannot be built through legislation alone, but requires fair, transparent and effective implementation.
The rule of law, he said, means clear and stable legal rules that are applied fairly and equally, with procedures that are equitable and transparent, ensuring citizens feel that their rights are protected and that institutions operate in accordance with the law.
He added that strengthening legal awareness, particularly among young people, represents an investment in the future of the rule of law, as citizens who understand their rights and responsibilities become partners in protecting the law and reinforcing its authority.
Talhouni said judicial modernization is not a project that ends with amending a law or launching a service, but an ongoing process driven by social, economic and technological changes. It requires continuous reviews of legislation and procedures to maintain the stability of legal rules while ensuring their ability to keep pace with new developments.
Concluding his remarks, Talhouni said World Law Day serves as an opportunity to reaffirm that law is not merely a collection of texts, but a tool for regulating society, protecting rights and freedoms and upholding the rule of law.
He said the true impact of law is measured by the fairness of its application, ease of access to justice and the confidence citizens place in state institutions.
“We want Jordanian law to be close to citizens, clear in its provisions, fair in its purpose, stable in its rules and flexible enough to keep pace with change,” he said.
Source: Petra
