[REVISION HISTORY]

Morocco lawyer reform protests and law implementation

Updated 11 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-01 19:21 UTC → 2026-09-10 17:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.”

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