Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council confirmed on Sunday the retirement of Federal Supreme Court Chief Justice Jassim Mohammed Aboud al-Amiri, the head of the country’s highest judicial authority, citing health reasons.

In an official statement, the council announced that a committee formed under the amended Federal Supreme Court Law No. 30 of 2005 approved al-Amiri’s retirement. The council nominated Munther Ibrahim Hussein, Deputy President of the Federal Court of Cassation, as his successor, pending formal appointment by presidential decree.

Al-Amiri’s retirement follows the abrupt resignation of nine Supreme Court judges—six permanent members and three alternates—on June 19. The mass resignations came just before the court was set to rule on two high-profile cases: the Kurdistan Region’s salary dispute and a maritime border agreement with Kuwait. Initial reports had suggested al-Amiri was among those who resigned, but judicial officials later clarified that he retired separately due to medical reasons.

Munther Ibrahim Hussein, the proposed replacement, is a seasoned jurist with decades of experience. Born in Baghdad in 1963, he holds a law degree from the University of Baghdad and graduated from the Judicial Institute in 1998. Since 2018, he has served on the Federal Court of Cassation, where he currently holds multiple key roles, including Deputy President, head of the criminal panel, and reserve member of the Supreme Court.

The recent judicial upheaval has raised questions about the stability of Iraq’s highest legal body, particularly as it was poised to make critical rulings affecting both domestic and regional politics. The resignations have delayed decisions on contentious issues, including disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over budget allocations and public sector salaries.