Judges ready for English cases, execution still in the works

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain’s Supreme Judicial Council has been training judicial personnel to handle cases in English, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf said, though executing English-language judgments without Arabic translation remains a step for the future.

The ministry’s statement came in response to a question from Shura Council member Dalal Al Zayed, who asked whether steps would be taken to establish a specialised judicial body and a dedicated route for enforcing judgments issued in English.

Arabic remains the official language of Bahrain’s courts, the ministry said, citing Decree-Law No. 27 of 2021, which allows parties to select another language before filing a case if agreed in writing. It also referred to Decision No. 28 of 2023, governing the use of English before courts and the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution, including the types of disputes, terms of the agreement, and rules on translation and witness testimony.

The ministry said the Supreme Judicial Council, in coordination with the Judicial and Legal Studies Institute, has prepared judicial personnel— particularly those proficient in English—for commercial disputes and contract cases. The training is part of the “Judges of the Future” programme, designed to equip judges for legal and technical developments. Bahraini courts have already issued judgments in English, including rulings from the Court of Cassation, demonstrating the system’s readiness and building trust domestically and internationally.

Regarding enforcement, the ministry said that carrying out English-language judgments without Arabic translation is part of future planning and will depend on practical needs. Currently, such rulings are executed under the Civil and Commercial Implementation Law (Decree-Law No. 22 of 2021), with no special provisions for English-language judgments.