The Judiciary Protects Justice Not Only by Rulings but Also by Its Management

The Sharia judiciary constitutes one of the main components of the Palestinian justice system, given the competencies it exercises that touch citizens' daily lives, in matters of personal status, family, inheritance, guardianship, and alimony, which makes the soundness of its administration and the effectiveness of the integrity system within it a matter of public importance that goes beyond the judicial dimension to affect social stability and citizens' trust in public institutions!

Modern international experience, when we speak of judicial independence, does not limit its thinking to the independence of the judge when issuing his ruling, but also to how the judicial institution itself is managed: how powers are distributed, how resources are managed, how decisions are made… and how oversight and accountability are exercised!

In this field, the latest report issued by " the Coalition for integrity and accountability (AMAN.) .2025Integrity System in the Workings of the Sharia Judiciary. Ramallah - Palestine " highlights the institutional governance of the Sharia judiciary, considered one of the pillars of building public trust… since it does not discuss judicial rulings, nor does it argue about jurisprudential interpretations!

The report confirms that the Sharia judiciary does not lack laws; rather the legislative framework regulating the work of the Sharia judiciary is relatively developed, as it includes provisions related to judicial independence, prevention of conflicts of interest, financial disclosure statements, judicial inspection and disciplinary procedures, and mechanisms for appointment and promotion!

The report emphasizes that the true test of any public institution is not in the mere existence of texts, nor in the quality of laws, but in the ability of these public institutions to turn laws into daily practices that reinforce citizens' trust!

The report draws attention to a number of issues to widen the calm and responsible national discussion on them… Among these issues are the broad powers granted to certain positions, the absence of clear legal criteria for filling such positions, the limited disclosure of reports and data, and the need to develop a more effective system of institutional accountability, and these, as the report indicates, are not criticisms of a particular person or institution, nor through casting doubt on institutions, but rather issues related to good governance, which many public institutions in developing countries face… and are addressed through distribution of powers, enhancing transparency, providing access to information, and strengthening oversight tools!..

The strength of the judicial institution is not measured only by its ability to adjudicate disputes, but also by its ability to win the trust of society. This trust is not imposed by law, but is built gradually through transparency, disclosure, procedural justice, accountability, and adherence to the best standards of governance.

In light of that, the need to consolidate institutional integrity becomes more urgent in our Palestinian case, because the strength of institutions is one of the most important elements of national resilience… and it is a fundamental basis for any state seeking to consolidate the rule of law!

Real reform begins with acknowledging that strong institutions are not those free of observations, but those that have the courage to review themselves, benefit from independent evaluations, and turn them into practical steps toward more efficient and transparent performance

·         That justice is not merely a ruling issued by a court, but an integrated system that begins with integrity, is consolidated by transparency, and is completed by accountability. The stronger this system is, the greater the citizen's trust in the judiciary, and the more the stature of the rule-of-law state we all seek is strengthened!