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Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait stated that Decree No. 136 of 2026 represents one of the first executive steps to follow the new Judiciary Organization Law and reflects a move from legislative updates toward actual application of the changes. The minister stressed that the success of judicial reform should not be judged by the number of legal provisions amended but by its impact on the public with key goals that include shortening litigation periods strengthening consistency in judicial rulings reducing conflicting judgments improving performance enhancing oversight and accountability and ensuring rights reach citizens more efficiently. Al-Sumait added that the reforms form part of a wider process directed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah that places emphasis on developing the justice system addressing institutional shortcomings preparing national judicial talent accelerating Kuwaitization of the judiciary and support positions and reinforcing the stability of court decisions.
Under the decree the minimum period required to remain in most judicial ranks has been cut to three years while the minimum for the rank of Deputy Prosecutor (C) stands at four years according to the minister. This adjustment seeks to speed the promotion of qualified Kuwaiti judges and prosecutors into senior positions even as all other requirements tied to seniority eligibility competence inspection reports and additional legal controls on advancement remain in place. The Times Kuwait reported that the measure builds directly on the Judiciary Organization Law whose draft the Cabinet approved less than two weeks earlier on August 18.
The new regulations also reorganize the Supreme Judicial Council to align with the revised structure and tenure rules for senior judicial posts Al-Sumait explained. Such changes aim to introduce a more systematic rotation that opens opportunities for additional qualified judicial figures to take part in managing the justice system. The minister noted that these steps will help create a more organized leadership framework across the sector.
Current officeholders will continue in their roles until new formal appointment decrees are issued the report indicated. The reform extends to senior positions in the Public Prosecution including the Attorney General and other top prosecution offices where occupancy of certain leadership posts will be restructured. Officials whose terms conclude will return to regular judicial duties based on their rank and seniority while an explanatory memorandum clarifies that senior administrative judicial positions constitute institutional assignments rather than permanent personal rights.
Earlier coverage by the outlet showed the Kuwaitization drive had already produced measurable results with the share of expatriates in the Public Prosecution falling from 20 percent to 17 percent by October 2025 and the second phase of the nationalization plan lifting the overall Kuwaitization rate in the judiciary to 87 percent by late July 2026. The ministry has maintained that the program will continue in stages until full nationalization is achieved by October 2030 in line with government strategy. These latest adjustments therefore fit within a multi-year sequence of measures that began with the appointment of Kuwaiti women to the General Prosecution in 2025 and the Kuwaitization of the court bailiff position earlier in 2026.
Al-Sumait said the coming phase will demand close coordination between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Judicial Council with each body working within its defined legal powers to turn the reforms into measurable gains in courtrooms and prosecution offices. He emphasized “although the new law has already entered into force the real test begins with implementation” and that the ultimate goal remains for citizens to experience faster more efficient and more stable justice. The minister added that the focus now shifts from enacting legislation to delivering tangible improvements in how the justice system serves the public.
