One Egyptian judge cleared one reprimanded

A disciplinary panel in Egypt chaired by Counselor Fathi Khalifa, the head of the Court of Cassation, cleared Thursday Counselor Mahmoud Mekki and reprimanded counselor Hisham El-Bastawisi.

The two judges, who are the deputy chiefs of the Court of Cassation, were accused of breaking judiciary rules when they publicly criticized alleged violations during the November 2005 parliamentary elections.

Some of their peers have also asked the Justice Minister to take action against both judges for accusing them of condoning the alleged irregularities. Judges and lawyers welcomed the ruling, hopping that it would serve as a stepping stone for a quite dialogue between the Judges Club and the Supreme Judiciary Council.

Judges Club President Counselor Zakariya Abel Aziz asked the panel first to order police out of the court before the hearing began. Counselor Khalifa then asked policemen to leave court the in response to Abdel Aziz's request.

According to law, the ruling of the disciplinary panel cannot be challenged. The Justice Minister is in charge of reprimanding judges, but the measure does not undermine the judge's authority in court.

The reprimand is not also published in the official Gazette, according to law.

Following the court ruling, the Judges Club ended Thursday an open-ended sit-in which continued for one month in protest against the trial of judges Mekki and Bastawisi.

Counselor Abel Aziz said the club would continue dialogue with the executive and legislative authorities.

He said the Club will further pres for the issuance of the judicial authority law. The judge, however, stopped short of welcoming the ruling on Mekki and Bastwisi.

President Mubarak said that he doesn't intervene in judges affairs and what is going on now is their won affairs, they have to be settled by themselves.