Justice Minister Bassam Al-Talhouni said the entry into force of the new system governing court-appointed experts marks an important step towards developing the justice system and modernising litigation procedures.
اضافة اعلان
He said the system establishes a comprehensive legislative and institutional framework for regulating judicial expertise, strengthening integrity, transparency and impartiality, and raising the professional standards of experts.
Al-Talhouni explained that the new regulations are part of the Ministry of Justice's efforts to improve the legislative and procedural environment of the judiciary and enhance the quality of services provided to litigants. These measures are intended to accelerate the resolution of cases and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
The system introduces institutional and procedural mechanisms to regulate expert work before the courts, including the establishment of a dedicated expert affairs office responsible for overseeing administrative and technical procedures related to experts within the courts. This is intended to standardise procedures, improve management efficiency and speed up their completion.
The minister said the system establishes clear requirements for accrediting and qualifying experts, restricting court-related expert work to approved and sworn-in professionals in accordance with its provisions.
It also regulates examinations and interviews for certain expert specialisations and categories, while requiring experts to renew their accreditation annually to maintain professional competence, specialisation and familiarity with scientific and technological developments.
Al-Talhouni added that the system adopts an integrated electronic platform to manage all procedures related to court expertise. This will fully automate the process, from registering and accrediting experts and adding them to the electronic registry to appointing them, monitoring their work and evaluating their performance.
The platform will also allow complaints, objections and notifications to be submitted electronically, reducing paperwork, simplifying transactions, accelerating procedures, ensuring data accuracy and accessibility, and strengthening transparency, governance and oversight at every stage.
He noted that the system introduces digital transformation into the management of expert services through the creation of an electronic registry of experts, with their lists published on the Ministry of Justice's website. Data and documents issued from the registry will have legal validity, while complaints, objections and notifications can also be submitted electronically.
The minister said the system reinforces fairness and transparency in selecting experts by adopting a rotation-based appointment mechanism. It also regulates the collection and payment of expert fees through a dedicated account, ensuring clear procedures and stronger governance.
He stressed that the system strengthens oversight and accountability through performance evaluations and specialised committees tasked with reviewing complaints and objections to evaluation results.
It also establishes a graduated disciplinary framework that includes warnings, formal reprimands, suspension from expert duties and removal from the experts' registry, in accordance with the system's provisions.
The regulations clearly define experts' professional and ethical obligations, requiring them to maintain independence and impartiality. They also prohibit direct communication between experts and parties to a case outside approved legal procedures, safeguarding the integrity of litigation and preventing undue influence on expert work or findings.
Al-Talhouni added that experts will be allowed to review case files, including the documents and information necessary to perform their duties, subject to legal requirements. The system also regulates the use of rare and specialised expertise required by courts and permits legal entities to provide expert services under specific conditions and standards.
He said the Ministry of Justice had prepared explanatory videos and guidance materials outlining how the system works to facilitate its use by lawyers and experts.
Al-Talhouni concluded by affirming that the ministry would monitor implementation of the system to ensure its objectives are achieved, including regulating and developing expert services, strengthening governance, transparency and accountability, and improving the quality of technical reports.
These measures are expected to help courts resolve cases more efficiently and accurately, positively affecting litigants' rights and Jordan's ongoing efforts to modernise its justice system.
Source: Al-Ghad
