The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Judicial branch Iraq, in 36 editions.
The entry for Iraq published Judicial branch in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 16 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 16
- 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
Changed since 2024- Court of Cassation Chief of State and Head of Government--President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979);
- Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974)
Court of Cassation Chief of State and Head of Government--President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974)
- Court of Cassation Chief of State--President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979);
- Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974);
- Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991);
- 1991);
- Deputy Prime Minister Tariq AZIZ (since NA 1979);
- Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 27 March 1991)
Court of Cassation Chief of State and Head of Government--President State--President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974) 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991); 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq AZIZ (since NA 1979); Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 27 March 1991)
The same text in 11 editions, 1992 to 2002.
Court of Cassation
Rewritten: too little of the 1991 text remains to mark the changes.
Court of Cassation
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Court in transition following April 2003 defeat of Cassation SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
The same text in 3 editions, 2004 to 2006.
Supreme Court appointed by the Prime Minister, confirmed by the Presidency Council
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime Supreme Court appointed by US-led coalition the Prime Minister, confirmed by the Presidency Council
the Iraq Constitution calls for the Federal Judicial Authority, comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Supreme Federal Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
Rewritten: too little of the 2006 text remains to mark the changes.
the Iraq Constitution calls for the Federal Judicial Authority, comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Supreme Federal Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
the Iraq Constitution calls for the Federal Judicial Authority, federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Supreme Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
The same text in 4 editions, 2009 to 2012.
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Juridical Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues);
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Higher Juridical Council, a 26-member independent committee of judicial officials;
- FSC members appointed for life ;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure until retirement at age 63
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- courts of first instance;
- personal status, labor, criminal, juvenile, and religious courts
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
highest court(s):
Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office:
Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Higher Juridical Council, a 26-member independent committee of judicial officials; FSC members appointed for life ; Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure until retirement at age 63
subordinate courts:
Courts of Appeal (governorate level); courts of first instance; personal status, labor, criminal, juvenile, and religious courts
The same text in 2015 and 2016.
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government);
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Higher Juridical Council, a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors;
- FSC members appointed for life;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure until retirement nominally at age 63
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- courts of first instance;
- personal status, labor, criminal, juvenile, and religious courts
highest court(s):issues); issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office:26-member independent 25-member committee of judicial officials; officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life ; life; Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure until retirement nominally at age 63
subordinate courts:
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government;
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors;
- FSC members appointed for life;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic;
- religious courts
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government); government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges appointed selected by the Higher Juridical Council, president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period by the SJC and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts of including first instance; instance, personal status, labor, criminal, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic; religious courts
- highest courts:
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government;
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors;
- FSC members appointed for life;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic;
- religious courts
highest court(s): courts: Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic; religious courts
- highest courts:
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government;
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manages the judiciary and prosecutors;
- FSC members appointed for life;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic;
- religious courts
highest courts: Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage manages the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic; religious courts
The same text in 2020 and 2021.
- highest courts:
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government;
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Higher Judicial Council (HJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manages the judiciary and prosecutors;
- FSC members appointed for life;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
highest courts: Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Higher Judicial Council (SJC), (HJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manages the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic; religious traffic courts
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government;
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court judges nominated by the HJC President, the FSC Chief Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission;
- FSC members required to retire at age 72;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66 by the HJC
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
highest courts: court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected nominated by the president of HJC President, the republic from nominees selected by FSC Chief Justice, the Higher Judicial Council (HJC), a 25-member committee Public Prosecutor's Office chief, and the head of judicial officials that manages the judiciary and prosecutors; Judicial Oversight Commission; FSC members appointed for life; required to retire at age 72; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63 63, but can be extended to age 66 by the HJC
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
The same text in 2023 and 2024.
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges);
- note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government;
- Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC chief justice, the public prosecutor's office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission;
- FSC members required to retire at age 72;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66 by the HJC
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the HJC President, High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC Chief Justice, chief justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office public prosecutor's office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission; FSC members required to retire at age 72; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66 by the HJC
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC chief justice, the public prosecutor's office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission;
- FSC members required to retire at age 72;
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal (governorate level);
- civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs;
- criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
note: Federal Supreme Court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC chief justice, the public prosecutor's office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission; FSC members required to retire at age 72; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66 by the HJC
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
note: Federal Supreme Court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Iraq: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iraq/judicial-branch.