The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Judicial branch Bahrain, in 36 editions.
The entry for Bahrain published Judicial branch in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 8 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 8
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Judicial branch” (1990 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Same as 2024The same text in 1990 and 1991.
- High Civil Appeals Court Chief of State--Amir Isa bin Salman Al KHALIFA (since 2 November 1961);
- Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950);
- Head of Government--Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al KHALIFA, (since 19 January 1970)
High Civil Appeals Court Chief of State--Amir Isa bin Salman Al KHALIFA (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950); Head of Government--Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al KHALIFA, (since 19 January 1970)
The same text in 21 editions, 1992 to 2012.
High Civil Appeals Court
Rewritten: too little of the 1991 text remains to mark the changes.
High Civil Appeals Court
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
- highest court(s):
Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of a president and 6 members)
note - the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into the civil law and sharia law courts
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure
- subordinate courts:
- High Court of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- higher and lower shariah courts, and the High Shariah Court of Appeal
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
highest court(s):
Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of a president and 6 members)
note - the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into the civil law and sharia law courts
judge selection and term of office:
Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure
subordinate courts:
High Court of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; higher and lower shariah courts, and the High Shariah Court of Appeal
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members);
- High Sharia Court of Appeal
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure;
- Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- members serve 9-year terms;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal;
- Senior Sharia Court
highest court(s):a the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of a the president and 6 members) members); High Sharia Court of Appealnote - note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into the civil law courts and sharia law courts
judge selection and term of office:and Constitutional Court judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
subordinate courts:Court Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; higher and lower shariah courts, and the High Shariah Sharia Court of Appeal Appeal; Senior Sharia Court
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members);
- High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge);
- appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure;
- Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- members serve 9-year terms;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal;
- Senior Sharia Court
highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge); appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members);
- High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge);
- appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts(involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure;
- Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- members serve 9-year terms;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal;
- Senior Sharia Court;
- military courts
highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge); appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts courts(involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court Court; military courts
- highest courts:
- Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members);
- High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge);
- appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure;
- Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- members serve 9-year terms;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal;
- Senior Sharia Court;
- Administrative Courts of Appeal;
- military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts(involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim
highest court(s): courts: Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge); appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appealnote: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts(involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslimjudge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts(involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim
The same text in 3 editions, 2019 to 2021.
- highest courts:
- Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members);
- High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure;
- Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- members serve 9-year terms;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
- subordinate courts:
- Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal;
- Senior Sharia Court;
- Administrative Courts of Appeal;
- military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
highest courts: Court of Cassation or (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge); appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal judge)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure NA
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts(involving courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
The same text in 4 editions, 2022 to 2025.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members);
- High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure;
- Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- members serve 9-year terms;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
- subordinate courts:
- Civil High Courts of Appeal;
- middle and lower civil courts;
- High Sharia Court of Appeal;
- Senior Sharia Court;
- Administrative Courts of Appeal;
- military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
highest courts: court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bahrain: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bahrain/judicial-branch.