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18 clusters · 28 sources · 92 days · First seen · Last updated

Morocco lawyer reform protests and law implementation

Overview

Since 15 June 2026, a nationwide lawyers’ strike in Morocco has continued in opposition to Law No. 66.23, which reforms the legal profession. The Moroccan Bar Association initially launched the strike following remarks from Justice Minister Abdel Latif Wahbi, which they described as “false, insulting and aimed at undermining the legal profession.” On 15 August 2026, the Constitutional Court issued ruling number 26/277, declaring it unable to rule on the law’s constitutionality due to a procedural deficiency. Despite this, Law No. 66.23 officially entered into force on 20 August 2026, following its publication in the Official Gazette via Dahir No. 1-26-75. Promulgated by King Mohammed VI, the legislation defines lawyers as part of the “judicial family” and mandates a Master’s degree for candidates. On 28 August 2026, the Association des barreaux du Maroc (ABAM) confirmed it would maintain a suspension of professional services, including legal aid, despite the law being in effect. This decision has highlighted significant divisions within regional bar associations. While the ABAM persists with the protest, associations in Fez, Khouribga, Beni Mellal, Safi, and Casablanca have expressed a desire to resume operations. By 1 September 2026, tensions persisted as Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi proposed a new national coding system to unify lawyer identification across courts, utilizing 17 specific codes to distinguish different bar associations. Internal divisions remain evident; while the ABAM maintains its strike, some lawyers in Casablanca have resumed work, with former Justice Minister Mustafa Ramid appearing at the Casablanca Court of Appeal. On 10 September 2026, the ABAM announced it would extend its strike and the suspension of judicial services until 20 September. During a press conference in Rabat, ABAM president Al-Houssine Ziani denied reports of a split within the profession, asserting that decisions are made through “consensus and collective management.”

Entities

Morocco · Abdellatif Ouahbi · Ministry of Justice · Constitutional Court of Morocco · Constitutional Court

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

  • "The Association of Bar Associations continues to protest and boycott court services." lemaroc360.com · www.taroudantpress.com · www.akhbarona.com

    vs

    "Lawyer Mohamed Nakhli has called on lawyers to resume work and return to the courts." assabah.ma

    One claim states the Association continues to boycott court services, while the other states a lawyer has called for lawyers to resume work and return to the courts.

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Moroccan bar associations extend strike until September 20

    Moroccan bar associations have extended their strike against a new legal profession law until September 20, despite internal debates regarding the impact of the service suspension.

  2. 10 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Morocco legal sector faces coding proposals and strike tensions

    Morocco's Justice Ministry has proposed a new national coding system for lawyers, amid ongoing protests and strikes by bar associations against new legal profession regulations.

  3. 15 days ago

    [POLITICS] 13 sources
    Moroccan lawyers extend strike against new legal profession law

    Moroccan lawyers are extending their strike against Law 66.23, protesting that the new legal profession regulations threaten judicial independence and self-regulation despite the law entering into force.

  4. 17 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Moroccan lawyers divided over new legal profession law

    Moroccan lawyers are divided over Law No. 66.23. While some leaders urge a return to work to protect professional unity, young lawyers' associations call for continued strikes and election boycotts.

  5. 22 days ago

    [POLITICS] 9 sources
    Morocco implements new legal profession law amid ongoing lawyers' strike

    Morocco's new legal profession law has officially taken effect, but lawyers continue an open-ended strike to protest the legislation and demand greater professional independence.

  6. 24 days ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Moroccan Consumer Rights Association warns of lawyer strike impact

    The Moroccan Consumer Rights Association has warned the Minister of Justice that lawyers' strikes over new professional regulations are threatening the right to defense, especially for criminal detainees.

  7. 27 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Constitutional Court unable to rule on legal profession law

    Morocco's Constitutional Court has ruled unable to review the law regulating the legal profession due to a procedural error involving the submission of an uncertified draft instead of the final approved text.

  8. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Morocco's Constitutional Court declines to rule on lawyers' profession law

    Morocco's Constitutional Court declined to rule on the constitutionality of the lawyers' profession law due to a procedural error in the referral documents, amid ongoing strikes by lawyers.

  9. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Moroccan Bar Association Extends Nationwide Strike Over New Lawyers' Law

    Moroccan lawyers' association prolongs its indefinite strike over a new law pending constitutional review, citing threats to professional independence and democratic principles.

  10. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Moroccan Lawyers Protest Draft Bar Law Across Major Cities

    Moroccan lawyers in Settat, Rabat and Oujda continue protests and court boycotts over draft law 66.23, demanding a participatory rewrite to protect bar independence.

  11. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Morocco's Council of Councillors approves law restructuring the legal profession

    Morocco's Council of Councillors passed the second reading of a law overhauling the legal profession, setting a 10 % fee‑discount cap and revising registration and board composition rules.

  12. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Moroccan lawyers stage protest in Rabat against draft law on the legal profession

    Moroccan lawyers protested in Rabat, demanding the withdrawal of draft law No. 66.23 that they claim threatens the profession’s independence, while the government defends it as a justice reform.

  13. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Morocco's contested lawyer profession law sparks parliamentary debate

    Morocco pushes a controversial legal‑profession reform (Law 66.23) despite lawyer groups’ claims it threatens defence independence, with parliament debating the bill and possible royal arbitration.

  14. 3 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Moroccan Bar Association Extends Nationwide Strike Over Contested Lawyers' Law

    Moroccan lawyers extend a nationwide strike, protesting amendments to the draft lawyers' law that raise entry age, admit religious‑school graduates, and add civil‑service clerks, citing constitutional breaches.

  15. 3 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Morocco's Council of Advisors approves reform of the legal profession

    Morocco's Council of Advisors passed Law No. 66, reforming the legal profession with new entry age limits, expanded qualifications, revised bar governance and stronger financial oversight.

  16. 3 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Moroccan lawyers maintain strike over draft law on the legal profession

    Moroccan lawyers continue a nationwide strike demanding amendments to a draft law they say endangers the profession’s independence, with multiple bar associations joining the protest.

  17. 3 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Moroccan lawyers launch week‑long strike over Justice Minister Wahbi's remarks

    Moroccan lawyers started a week‑long strike on 15 June, halting courts to protest Justice Minister Wahbi’s remarks and a proposed law on the legal profession.

  18. 3 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Moroccan Bar Association Calls One‑Week Strike Over Justice Minister's Remarks

    Moroccan lawyers’ association announced a one‑week strike from June 15‑21, 2026, protesting Justice Minister Abdel Latif Wahbi’s alleged defamatory remarks against the profession and demanding dialogue.

Sources

achkayen.com · akhbarona.com · al3omk.com · alalam.ma · alaraby.co.uk · alayam24.com · alyaoum24.com · annahjaddimocrati.org · ar.consonews.ma · assabah.ma · assafir24.ma · barlamantoday.com · casaoui.ma · fesnews.net · grantthornton.es · hnews.ma · lakome2.com · lemaroc360.com · lenew.ma · lesiteinfo.com · m.ihata.ma · maglor.fr · marokko.nl · palestinaliberation.com · tanja7.com · taroudantpress.com · taxinews.ma · vetogate.com

This summary has been updated 11 times: see revision history