The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Judicial branch Syria, in 36 editions.
The entry for Syria published Judicial branch in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 20 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 20
- 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 2024Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts Chief of State--President Lt. Gen. Hafiz al-ASSAD (since 22 February 1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Dr. Rifat al-ASSAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); Head of Government--Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984)
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts Chief of State--President Lt. Gen. Hafiz al-ASSAD (since 22 February 1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Dr. Rifat al-ASSAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); Head of Government--Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984)
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts Chief of State--President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rifat al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); Head of Government--Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Mahmud QADDUR (since NA May 1985)
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts Chief of State--President Lt. Gen. Hafiz al-ASSAD al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Dr. Rifat al-ASSAD, al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); Head of Government--Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984) 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Mahmud QADDUR (since NA May 1985)
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
- Supreme Constitutional Court,
- High Judicial Council,
- Court of Cassation,
- State Security Courts
Rewritten: too little of the 1991 text remains to mark the changes.
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation,
State Security Courts
- Supreme Constitutional Court,
- High Judicial Council,
- Court of Cassation,
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation,
Cassation, State Security Courts
- Supreme Constitutional Court,
- High Judicial Council,
- Court of Cassation,
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council,
Court of
- Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president;
- High Judicial Council;
- Court of Cassation;
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial Council,
Council; Court of Cassation, Cassation; State Security Courts
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
- Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president;
- High Judicial Council;
- Court of Cassation;
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Cassation; State Security Courts
- Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president;
- High Judicial Council;
- Court of Cassation;
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Council; Court of
- Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president;
- High Judicial Council;
- Court of Cassation;
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
The same text in 5 editions, 2001 to 2005.
- Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president);
- High Judicial Council;
- Court of Cassation;
- State Security Courts
Supreme Constitutional Court, justices Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president; president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
- Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President);
- High Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the President);
- Court of Cassation (national level);
- State Security Courts (hear cases related to national security);
- Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce);
- Courts of First Instance (local level; include magistrate, summary, and peace courts)
Rewritten: too little of the 2005 text remains to mark the changes.
Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President); High Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the President); Court of Cassation (national level); State Security Courts (hear cases related to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce); Courts of First Instance (local level; include magistrate, summary, and peace courts)
- Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the President);
- national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President);
- Court of Cassation;
- Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts);
- local level - Magistrate Courts;
- Courts of First Instance;
- Juvenile Courts;
- Customs Courts;
- specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);
- Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security);
- Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)
Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the President); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President); High Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the President); Court of Cassation (national level); State and local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes); Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce); Courts of First Instance (local level; include magistrate, summary, and peace courts) divorce)
- Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the president);
- national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President);
- Court of Cassation;
- Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts);
- local level - Magistrate Courts;
- Courts of First Instance;
- Juvenile Courts;
- Customs Courts;
- specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);
- Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security);
- Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)
Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the President); president); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes); Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)
The same text in 4 editions, 2009 to 2012.
- Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the president);
- national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the president);
- Court of Cassation;
- Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts);
- local level - Magistrate Courts;
- Courts of First Instance;
- Juvenile Courts;
- Customs Courts;
- specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);
- Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security);
- Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)
Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the president); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the President); president); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes); Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
highest court(s):
Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 members)
judge selection and term of office:
Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts:
courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court
highest court(s):
judge selection and term of office:
subordinate courts:
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court
highest court(s): Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 7 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court;
- Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
highest court(s): Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
The same text in 4 editions, 2018 to 2021.
- highest courts:
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges serve 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court;
- Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
highest court(s): courts: Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members members, including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for serve 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
The same text in 3 editions, 2022 to 2024.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges serve 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court;
- Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
highest courts: court(s): Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges serve 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
- highest court(s):
- Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges);
- Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president;
- judge tenure NA;
- Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC;
- judges serve 4-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- courts of first instance;
- magistrates' courts;
- religious and military courts;
- Economic Security Court;
- Counterterrorism Court
highest court(s): Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges serve 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court (established June 2012)
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Syria: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/syria/judicial-branch.