A Delegation of the Institute of Law Visits Family Courts in Hebron

As part of activities of the Family Law Court Judgements Database, a project implemented by the Institute of Law (IoL) at Birzeit University in cooperation with the High Council of Family Courts, a delegation of the IoL visited on 16 July 2012 family courts in the Hebron governorate. Sheikh Ribhi al Qasrawi at Tamimi, High Family Court Justice and Chairman of the Technical Office at the High Council of Family Courts, was in company with the IoL staff. The delegation viewed and examined sample historic documents, which date back to the beginning of the Ottoman rule over Palestine. As they constitute part of Palestine’s historic and legal heritage, the IoL plans to electronically archive these documents with a view to protect them against damage and loss. The IoL delegation included staff members Jamil Salem, Reem Al -Botmeh, Ahmed Hammou, and Abeer Dirbas.

In addition to viewing historic documents and manuscripts, the IoL delegation collected a large number of decisions entered by the Hebron Family Court in Bab Al- Zawiya area, Western Hebron Family Court, Dura Family Court, and Halhul Family Court.

Currently, the IoL is in the process of building a database to accommodate decisions issued by family  courts. The process of developing the mentioned database has been enlightened by IoL’s former experience of constructing the Regular Court Judgements Database. So far, a total of 9,000 family court judgements have been entered on the Family Law Court Judgements Database. Links between this database and the Palestinian Legal  and Judicial System (AL-MUQTAFI) are now in place. Relations between court judgements are linked to previous or subsequent court decisions as well as with pieces of legislation referred to in the body of court judgements. While they view any court judgements, users can at the same time access all databases on AL-MUQTAFI.