KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Justice and Chair of the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies Nasser Al-Sumait, has ordered the institute to conduct a comprehensive study to overhaul the selection process for entry-level legal researcher roles, which qualify candidates to become junior prosecutors.
The move comes days after the minister announced the complete cancellation of the current admissions cycle, citing serious irregularities in the process. “In response to the complaints and grievances submitted regarding the recent admissions procedures, and the observations raised about the integrity and accuracy of their results, a review of the documents revealed violations that tainted the work of the selection committee and its supporting team,” Al-Sumait said in a statement released by the ministry this week. He added that the flaws in the admissions process were so severe that “they cast a shadow over the entire acceptance process to the extent that no subsequent correction or review could be of any value.” As a result, all actions and results issued by the admissions committee and its team — formed under ministerial decisions 1602 and 1603 of 2024 — were nullified.
Rigorous framework
In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Thursday, the minister explained that the newly commissioned study aims to establish “a rigorous institutional framework” for selecting legal researchers. “This mandate reflects the ministry’s keenness to uphold transparency and integrity in appointment procedures, and to capitalize on the institute’s accumulated national expertise in training and preparing judicial and legal talent,” he said. The minister underscored that this effort is part of a broader vision to modernize the justice system based on competence and equal opportunity, “in a way that reinforces society’s trust in state institutions.”
Public trust
Earlier this week, Al-Sumait emphasized that the ministry is committed to restoring public confidence in the judiciary by ensuring a clean and competitive pathway for aspiring legal professionals. “To preserve public trust in the judiciary and uphold the principles of equality and merit-based opportunity, the ministry has decided to allow Kuwait’s sons and daughters to compete freely for these roles based on their qualifications and abilities,” he said.
He noted that a new process for written exams and personal interviews was set to be announced soon. The legal researcher position, which serves as a stepping stone to becoming a junior prosecutor, is a “foundation stone in the judicial structure,” Al-Sumait said, adding that when this foundation is solid, it “strengthens the entire judicial edifice.” He described judicial roles as a “sacred trust and a heavy responsibility,” requiring those who hold them to speak truth and resolve disputes impartially. — Agencies
