The judicial system is composed of the Supreme Court and the regional courts. There are five Supreme Court judges, including one appointed by the President, one appointed by the National Assembly, and three appointed by the High Council of Magistrates. Judges are independent and may not belong to a political party. The Constitution provides for the right to a fair trial. Free counsel is provided for the indigent.
Regional courts adjudicate minor disputes on the local level in rural areas.
The Ministry of Justice and Labor appoints local judges, who are usually prominent local citizens. Defendants may appeal regional court decisions to the Supreme Court. The judiciary generally provides due process rights. However, there are serious delays owing to understaffing, and the right to an expeditious trial is constrained by a seriously overburdened judicial system. A backlog of cases routinely leads to trial delays of 6 months.