Judge detained during disciplinary board hearing

Judge Amir Awad was arrested on Monday during a judicial disciplinary board hearing for the appeal of 31 justices forced into early retirement two years ago for their support of former President Mohamed Morsi, the privately owned news site Youm7 reported.

The judges had all signed a statement denouncing Morsi’s removal from power at the hands of the military on July 3, 2013. The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) sent them into early retirement on March 2014 on the grounds that they had engaged in political activity and sided with a political faction — the Muslim Brotherhood — against national interests.

Awad entered into a heated argument with board chair Ahmed Abdel Latif on Monday when he objected to Abdel Latif’s decision to defer the hearing to the next day. Awad argued that he had no place to stay in Cairo and had to drive back to his hometown of Mansoura.

Latif then ordered the SJC’s guards to arrest Awad, referring him to the prosecution for contempt of the court.

With an internal disciplinary system that punishes judges with work-related sanctions, such as demotion and forced retirement, it is uncommon for judges to be referred to a criminal court for practice-related violations.

According to several local media outlets, tensions were running high late into Monday night at the SJC headquarters where Awad is being held. His colleagues were objecting to his detention and security was not allowing journalists into the building.