Courts
- The Court of First Instance is the court of general jurisdiction; it has civil, criminal and employment chambers and a family justice section, with the possibility of specialised courts (civil, criminal, employment).
- Commercial Courts and Administrative Courts retain their own jurisdiction; the corresponding Courts of Appeal rule at second instance.
- The Court of Cassation ensures the uniform interpretation of the law.
Operating principles
- Collegial benches for major cases and a single judge for simple cases, in accordance with the rules of procedure.
- Public hearings, free access to justice subject to court fees, and use of the Arabic language with translation provided.
- The president of the court and the public prosecutor are responsible for administrative management; an annual general assembly organises the chambers.
Key articles
Art. 1
« The judicial organisation comprises courts of first instance, courts of appeal and the Court of Cassation; courts are established, and their seat and territorial jurisdiction determined, by decree. »
A lawyer's points to watch
- Identify the competent court from the outset: bringing a case before the wrong court (commercial, administrative, family) leads to a transfer and delays.
- The family sections in Rabat deal with marriage, divorce, custody and maintenance; property matters between spouses may fall within other chambers.
- The rules on territorial jurisdiction in the Code of Civil Procedure continue to apply.
The English text on this page, including the quoted articles, is an unofficial translation. Information sheet prepared by Maître Lahfaia Law Firm, Rabat. It does not constitute legal advice. Only the text published in the Official Bulletin of the Kingdom of Morocco is authoritative; the articles cited may have been amended since this sheet was written.