Al-Wafd Newspaper
Thursday, May 15, 2025
International lawyer and legal researcher, Mehany Youssef, emphasized that amid the escalating crisis regarding judicial fees imposed by the President of the Cairo Court of Appeals — a decision issued on February 20, 2025, which increases litigation and automated service fees, effective from March 1, 2025 — a pressing question arises: Has justice become something bought and sold?
In exclusive statements to Al-Wafd Gate, Youssef questioned whether citizens are now paying a “tax to access justice” without receiving real value in return. “Has the lawyer become merely a financial intermediary, bearing the burden of litigation costs and defense without guarantees of a fair and accessible legal system?” he asked. “We are not against fees — but where is the service?”
He clarified that the objection to the new fees does not reject the principle of financial regulation of judicial operations, but rather reflects a legitimate protest against the lack of transparency and tangible improvements that justify these rising costs.
Youssef added that the increasing fees labeled as “automated service charges” are not matched by visible improvements in judicial performance, leaving legal professionals and citizens alike questioning: Are we getting what we’re paying for?
The Saudi Experience: A Model Worth Praising
Youssef highlighted that, by contrast, Saudi Arabia has provided a commendable example of how judicial fees can be imposed wisely. The fees there were not a burden but rather a step toward digitizing the judiciary, which dramatically shortened litigation timelines and safeguarded citizens’ rights to justice without excessive financial demands.
He noted that Saudi Arabia’s approach reduced frivolous lawsuits, improved service quality, and saved valuable time — the most precious asset for any citizen — instead of wasting it on meaningless procedures.
Proposal for Reform in Egypt
To strike a balance between regulation and public rights, Youssef proposed a Judicial Costs Law that would:
- Set a unified fee based on a percentage of the dispute value, payable by the losing party.
- Exempt labor and personal status cases.
- Cap fees for high-value cases.
This system, he explained, would reduce malicious lawsuits, encourage responsible dispute resolution, and prevent the court system from being overwhelmed or the state’s resources drained by frivolous claims.
Reducing case volume, he stressed, is not just administrative relief — it directly improves social and economic outcomes by saving time for judges, lawyers, citizens, and court staff, allowing greater focus on productive work and fair judgments.
Appeal to the President
Given the disappointing silence of Parliament, Youssef called on the President of Egypt to personally intervene and enact a fair and disciplined Judicial Costs Law — similar to how key economic legislation has been handled.
He concluded by stating that lawyers are not against judicial regulation or citizens contributing to public service efficiency, but justice must not be reduced to payment receipts. “Justice is not a commodity, and the judiciary is not a paid service — it is a constitutional institution that upholds the law and guarantees access to justice for all.”
