Lawyers will stay away from courts until at least Oct 8 after their national association decided on Sunday to continue the strike that has disrupted proceedings for four months.
The decision came after a marathon meeting of the Association of Moroccan Bar Associations (ABAM) at the Rabat Bar Club, which began at 10am and ended with the lawyers holding their ground over the disputed law governing the profession.
Cases have repeatedly been put off during the boycott because lawyers have not appeared. The delays have hit litigants across the court system, with remand prisoners particularly affected as hearings are postponed.
Nearly 18,000 lawyers have been on strike since June.
ABAM had called Sunday’s meeting to decide whether to suspend the boycott or carry on. A source within the association said the bureau opted for another extension, this time until Oct 8.
The date falls shortly before Parliament reconvenes for its October session. ABAM will meet again then to take stock and decide what comes next.
At issue are provisions lawyers say shift too much authority away from the bars and their presidents and towards the Justice Ministry and public prosecution.
They object to the Court of Auditors being allowed to scrutinize certain funds linked to the profession, the opening of the Moroccan market to foreign law firms and lawyers, and the transfer of some powers over lawyers’ training to the Justice Ministry.
ABAM says the changes upset the balance under which the profession is governed and encroach on lawyers’ independence.
The Justice Ministry has defended the law as an overhaul needed to modernize the profession, improve its governance and bring its workings into line with changes in the justice system.
The two sides now have another 18 days before the lawyers revisit their position.
Until then, the boycott stays.
