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Decree-Law No. 136 of 2026, published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm on August 30, replaced the table of minimum service periods that had been attached to Decree No. 126 of 2018 for judges and members of the Public Prosecution. Article 1 of the decree specifies that the updated table applies without any change to the salaries, allowances or bonuses allocated to each grade. The decree took effect on the date of its publication in the gazette.
The new table establishes a three-year minimum service period for advisor at the Court of Appeals, attorney general, deputy prosecutor at the Court of First Instance heading prosecution A, first-grade judge heading prosecution B, second-grade judge serving as deputy prosecutor A, and third-grade judge serving as deputy prosecutor B. A four-year minimum applies to the rank of deputy prosecutor C. Arab Times reported these specifications from the decree text.
Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait stated that the decree constitutes one of the first executive steps accompanying enforcement of the Judicial Organization Law. Al-Sumait noted that the reduced periods shorten the timeline for advancing qualified Kuwaiti nationals into senior judicial positions. The minister added that the measure follows directives to complete full Kuwaitization of the judiciary and Public Prosecution while preserving requirements for seniority, competence, inspection reports and legal promotion rules.
Decree-Law No. 80 of 2026, which issued the Law Regulating the Judiciary, set a maximum five-year period for gradual Kuwaitization of the judiciary and Public Prosecution, according to Kuwait Times. That law includes transitional provisions on ranks, appointment mechanisms for senior officials and restructuring of the Supreme Judicial Council. It also sets four-year renewable terms for certain senior positions, after which holders return to regular judicial duties based on prior seniority.
Al-Sumait indicated in his statement that implementation of the law shifts focus from legislation to execution. He said reform success will appear in shorter litigation durations, greater stability of legal principles, reduced conflicting judgments, higher performance efficiency and stronger oversight. The minister’s remarks were carried by both Arab Times and Kuwait Times following the decree’s publication.
