Baghdad – Iraq’s judiciary faces pressure after major changes rocked the country’s top judicial body. Judge Mundhir Ibrahim Hussein has officially replaced Judge Jassim Mohammed Abboud as president of the Federal Supreme Court. This leadership transition follows a wave of resignations and allegations of political interference.
The Supreme Judicial Council confirmed the development on Sunday. A committee, operating under Article 3 of the amended Law No. 30 of 2005, reached the decision during a formal meeting. They agreed to retire Abboud for health reasons and selected Hussein as his successor. Officials have contacted the President of the Republic to finalize the appointment.
The change comes shortly after an unprecedented institutional crisis. On June 19, six principal judges and three reserves resigned from the court. They cited internal conflict and external political pressure as their reasons.
MP Soran Omer linked the resignations to disagreements with Abboud and interference in high-profile cases, including the Khor Abdullah case. These developments have raised serious concerns. Iraq’s judiciary faces pressure like never before.
Hussein brings decades of experience. He was born in Baghdad in 1963. He earned his law degree from the University of Baghdad and graduated from the Judicial Institute in 1998. Since 2018, he has served on the Federal Cassation Court. He currently leads its criminal panel and also acts as deputy president. Moreover, Hussein is a reserve member of the Federal Supreme Court.
Earlier this month, Abboud attempted to convene Iraq’s political leaders. He said the meeting would safeguard constitutional stability. However, Parliament rejected his call. Lawmakers believed such a move could compromise judicial neutrality.
On June 19, Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani responded formally. He stressed that the judiciary is fully independent under Article 19 of Iraq’s Constitution. He also warned that political involvement could erode that independence, referencing Article 87.
Observers believe that Iraq’s judiciary faces pressure from both political factions and internal divisions. Legal experts say restoring trust will take time and institutional reform.
