Women in Morocco’s Judiciary: Rising Leadership, Growing Representation

Rabat — Morocco’s judicial system is seeing a rise in female participation as women judges take on leadership roles across all court levels.

Speaking during a training session for female judicial officials yesterday, Morocco’s Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and Chief Prosecutor Hicham Belaoui announced that female judges now constitute approximately 27% of all judges in Morocco — a percentage that continues to grow annually within the country’s judicial system.

The official spoke of the expanding role women are taking in leadership positions across Morocco’s justice sector, noting that 15 women currently hold senior judicial positions within the country’s prosecutor’s offices.

Breaking historical barriers

The current number of women in Morocco’s judiciary reflects a significant shift from previous decades. Belaoui noted that Morocco appointed the first woman as president of a court of first instance in 1998, thus establishing a precedent that has since paved the way for greater female participation in judicial leadership roles.

“Women have come to occupy leadership positions in various fields, including the justice sector,” Belaoui said, commending the “wisdom, seriousness, and solid legal competence” that female judges bring to their roles, along with their “effective role in establishing values of justice and fairness.”

Expanding leadership opportunities

The progress extends beyond prosecutor’s offices to encompass all levels of Morocco’s court system. Female judges now preside over courts at both first and second instance levels, while also heading chambers and sections within the Court of Cassation.

This expansion reflects the Supreme Council of the Judicial Authority’s strategic commitment to promoting equality and equal opportunities for men and women in judicial leadership positions, according to Belaoui.

The growing confidence in female judicial leaders has translated into increased appointments based on merit and qualification, demonstrating the system’s recognition of women’s capabilities in judicial administration.

Royal vision and national progress

The advancement of women in Morocco’s judiciary aligns with the North African country’s broader national progress in women’s empowerment.

Belaoui credited King Mohammed VI’s vision and attention to women’s issues as instrumental in strengthening female participation in public life and across various sectors.

The Attorney General referenced the King’s address to participants at the second Global Summit of the “Women in Africa” initiative in Marrakech on September 27, 2018, where the monarch argued that “no country, no economy, no society can meet the challenges of the times and invest all the energies it possesses without the role of women.”

Training and development

The training session is part of ongoing efforts to prepare female judicial officials for expanded leadership roles. Such professional development initiatives are designed to equip women with the administrative and managerial skills they need for effective judicial leadership in Morocco’s evolving legal system.

Meanwhile, the steady increase in female judicial representation and leadership positions reflects Morocco’s commitment to gender equality within its justice system, signaling broader societal changes and the recognition of women’s essential contributions to judicial excellence and public service.