On 12/14/2022, the Councils of the Bar Associations in Beirut and Tripoli held a meeting at the Lawyer’s House, chaired by Captains Nader Gaspar and Marie Therese Al-Qawwal. After deliberation, they issued the following statement:
First: The two councils affirm that the Supreme Judicial Council is the one that represents the judiciary, according to the law, and that it alone has the authority to speak on behalf of the judges who must always abide by the reservation.
Second: In light of the financial, economic, social and health crises that struck the country, and affected all segments without exception, except for some beneficiaries and bribe-takers; Some judges refrained from pursuing their mission and message, which they swore an oath to perform. We initially understood the position taken, and we hoped that the officials would take the initiative to take the necessary measures to address this situation. We also put forward specific ideas and made contacts and held meetings with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice and the President of the Supreme Judicial Council in order to find solutions that respond to the just demands. At the same time, we were announcing I’tikaaf as a means of claiming will not yield the desired results. And with the eligibility of the judges’ demands, just like the rest of the sectors and professions that have become in a difficult and uncomfortable situation, and after not responding to the demands of lawyers, citizens, the professional and human conscience, and the moral obligation, their continuation of retreat has become a denial of pursuing their message and the realization of the right, especially since the constitutional institutions are paralyzed and idle. He who hears or responds. This threatened and continues to threaten the interests of citizens, litigants and lawyers, and causes them the greatest harm.
Justice does not retreat, and the ruler who has command and prohibition does not retreat. And his retreat poses the greatest danger and harm to people because everything is in his hands, and his decisions affect all interests, sectors and rights.
Third: The two unions salute the judges who have continued to carry out their mission. And they call on the objectors to return their objections, or else submit their resignations, and they call on the Supreme Judicial Council and the Judicial Inspection Authority to take the necessary procedures and measures against them.
Fourth: The two unions call on the negligent political authority to take immediate administrative, organizational and financial measures aimed at contributing to ending this unfamiliar situation, which poses an imminent danger and causes the greatest damage to the interests of the Lebanese people, in preparation for the adoption of the law on the independence of the judiciary.