[JURIST] Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council [official website, in Arabic] on Monday rejected calls [press release, in Arabic] from protesters for the resignation of the country’s most senior Supreme Court judge. The demand for Judge Medhat Mahmoud to “retire” came as part of demands for governmental reform and the end of judicial corruption by tens of thousands of citizens protesting on Friday. According to Supreme Court Judicial Council spokesperson Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar, the council is rejecting the call as “the public interest and justice at this stage require him to stay in his duties.” Supreme Court judges are appointed by the council, which is made up on civil and Islamic law experts and constitutes the country’s highest legal authority [AP report].

This call for the senior judge’s resignation comes at a time of governmental reform for the country. Last week the Parliament of Iraq unanimously approved [JURIST report] Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi’s reform plan [statement] to cut spending and eliminate many top political positions. The reform plan came after citizen protests against corruption and poor governance throughout the country, and seeks to restart a corruption investigation program. Iraq’s cabinet approved the proposal [JURIST report] earlier that week, though it faced some criticism, and it was passed unanimously by parliament without debate. Iraq has faced significant challenges in recent years with both providing basic infrastructure and fighting militant groups. Earlier this month, the Iraqi Parliament warned [JURIST report] that closing UN health clinics in the country would have devastating effects for residents there. Last month, a Baghdad court sentenced [JURIST report] 24 Islamic State militants to death for the killing of hundreds of Iraqi soldiers.