Lawyers End Strike After Morocco Suspends Contested Legal Bill

Morocco’s legal standoff eased after the government suspended a controversial reform bill, prompting lawyers to end a week-long strike on Monday.

The dispute highlighted tensions between modernization efforts and professional independence within Morocco’s justice system. Lawyers had staged rolling strikes for several weeks, culminating in a nationwide work stoppage after authorities approved the draft legislation in December.

The bill, initiated by Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, was presented as a measure to modernize the legal sector and strengthen anti-corruption safeguards.

Independence Vs Oversight Powers

A central point of contention was a provision granting courts direct disciplinary authority over lawyers. Traditionally, disciplinary procedures are handled internally by bar associations. Legal professionals argued that transferring such powers to the judiciary risked undermining institutional autonomy and weakening safeguards tied to the right to defense.

Thousands of black-robed lawyers demonstrated in Rabat earlier this month, signaling the scale of resistance. The Association of Moroccan Bars (ABAM) warned that the reforms threatened core principles of independence and accused the Justice Ministry of abandoning a participatory approach to legislative drafting.

Government Steps Back

Omar Mahmoud Bendjelloun, an ABAM board member, said Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch pledged on Wednesday to “personally take charge” of the bill. According to Bendjelloun, the government established “a mixed commission” composed of officials and legal practitioners, effectively postponing the bill’s path to parliament.

He described the move as “a step back,” creating a potential “way out of the crisis.”

The government has now delayed forwarding the legislation for a parliamentary vote, reversing earlier plans.

“Matter Is in Your Hands”

Ouahbi signaled flexibility during a parliamentary session earlier this month. “The matter is in your hands,” he told lawmakers, adding: “I am ready to drop, modify or reform anything that harms lawyers.”

At the same time, he maintained, “The legal profession needs change, and I will implement that change.”

The remarks captured the balancing act facing the government - preserving reform momentum while managing backlash from a key professional constituency.

Dialogue as Pressure Valve

The suspension and creation of a commission reflect a familiar crisis-management mechanism in Moroccan institutional politics, where contested reforms are redirected into consultative processes.

For the legal sector, the outcome represents a tactical pause rather than a definitive settlement, as negotiations will now shape the bill’s eventual form.