Kuwait court resolves 98% of state security appeals in under four months
Kuwait’s judiciary has significantly accelerated the resolution of state security cases, with the State Security and Terrorism Crimes Department at the Court of Appeal disposing of 98 percent of appeals referred to it in less than four months, according to statistics released by the Supreme Judicial Council.
The figures show that between April 9 and July 30, the department issued 373 final and unappealable judgments out of a total of 379 appeals, while also delivering three preliminary rulings, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring the swift administration of justice in sensitive state security matters.
The department also assumed responsibility for appeals transferred from other appellate divisions. During the reporting period, it reviewed 98 transferred appeals and concluded all of them, achieving a 100 percent disposal rate.
Of the 281 appeals filed against judgments issued by the State Security Criminal Court, the department resolved 275 cases.
Three appeals were postponed to allow defendants to be notified and exercise their right to appear and present their defence, while another three cases were reserved for judgment and are expected to be decided in September. Preliminary rulings were also issued in three appeals.
The Supreme Judicial Council said the department has adopted procedures that balance the need for the prompt resolution of state security and terrorism-related cases with the protection of defendants’ legal rights and due process.
According to the council, the approach ensures that litigants are given adequate opportunities to present their defence while maintaining the efficiency and stability of judicial decisions in cases involving national security.
The accelerated pace of adjudication is intended to strengthen public confidence in the justice system while safeguarding the legal guarantees provided under Kuwaiti law.
