Law by Decree No. 20 of 2019 Concerning the Amendment of the Law by Decree No. 32 of 2018 on Local Government Courts

Law by Decree No. 20 of 2019

Concerning the Amendment of the Law by Decree No. 32 of 2018 on Local Government Courts

The President of the State of Palestine

The Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation

In reference of the Bylaw of the Palestine Liberation Organisation,

The provisions of the Amended Basic Law of 2003, as amended,

Having reviewed the provisions of the Law No. 1 of 1997 Concerning the Palestinian Local Government Units, as amended,

Having reviewed the provisions of the Law of Penal Procedure No. 3 of 2001, as amended,

The provisions of the Law on the Formation of Regular Courts No. 5 of 2001, as amended,

The provisions of the Law on the Judicial Authority No. 1 of 2002,

The provisions of the Law by Decree No. 32 of 2018 on Local Government Courts,

The opinion of the High Judicial Council in its Session No. 2 of 2019, convening on February 19^th, 2019,

Based upon the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, dated July 29^th, 2019,

The powers vested in me, and

In pursuance of the public interest,

I hereby promulgate the following Law by Decree:

Article 1

For the purposes of introducing this amendment, the Law by Decree No. 32 of 2018 on Local Government Courts shall be referred to as the Original Law.

Article 2

Article 2 of the Original Law shall be amended so as to become as follows:

In accordance with the provisions of this Law by Decree, a court shall be established at the seat of each regular court and shall be called the “Local Government Court”.

Article 3

Paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Original Law shall be amended so as to become as follows: The Court shall convene at the seat of the Court of First Instance or at the Court of Conciliation, where a seat of a Court of First Instance is not located. It shall be entitled to convene at any other venue by a decision from the High Judicial Council.

Article 4

Article 4 of the Original Law shall be amended so as to be become as follows:

Contrary to the provisions of legislation regulating the functions of local government units, the Court shall be competent of considering the offences committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court.

Article 5

Article 5 of the Original Law shall be amended so as to be become as follows:

The provisions of the Law of Penal Procedure shall be applicable to all of the cases heard before the Court.

Article 6

Article 6 of the Original Law shall be amended so as to be become as follows:

The judgements and decisions rendered by the Court shall be subject to challenge by objection or appeal in accordance with the procedures outlined under the Law of Penal Procedure in force.

Article 7

All provisions that contradict the provisions of this Law by Decree shall be repealed.

Article 8

All the competent authorities, each one within its sphere of jurisdiction, shall implement the provisions of this Law by Decree, which shall enter into force thirty days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Promulgated in the city of Ramallah on October 30^th, 2019 Anno Domini,

Corresponding to Rabee’ al-Awwal 2^nd, 1441 Anno Hegira.

Mahmoud Abbas

President of the State of Palestine

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation