The judiciary

04The judiciary

• Under Said the Haqqaniyya became known as Majlis al-Ahkam, functioning as a supreme court of appeal in the country.
• The sharia courts continued in matters of personal status and the transfer of ownership throughout the land.
• Beside them new courts or councils were created to settle civil and commercial questions, known as the councils of the regions (majalis al-aqalim).
• A special body named the Commission of Egypt (Qumisiyun Misr, 1861) was created, competent for cases brought by foreigners against Egyptians, except real estate and ownership.
• In Isma'il's era the consular courts were unified into one court known as the Mixed Courts (1875), established to hear disputes between Egyptians and foreigners and between foreigners of different nationalities.