Judge Mahmoud Mekki is one of the prominent figures who called for the independence of the judiciary and for putting an end to its dependence on executive power.

He was referred to a disciplinary council for declaring that the 2005 presidential elections were filled with violations and irregularities.

The disciplinary court to which he was referred acquitted him of all charges on May 18, 2006.

The Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported the curriculum vitae of Judge Mekki who was deputy head of the court of cassation and head of the election-monitoring committee in the Judges’ Club.

Being one of its coordinators, Mekki led demonstrations calling for the independence of the judiciary in 2006 and for amending article 76 of the constitution to choose a president from among more than one candidate.

Judge Mekki is the younger brother of the current justice minister Ahmed Mekki. He was one of the counselors tried for insulting judges for publishing what he called a black list of the 2005 elections rigging.

The newly-appointed vice president began his career as a central security officer then he joined the general prosecution and was promoted several times until he became deputy head of the court of cassation.

During his trial in 2005, Mekki was backed by a large number of the Muslim Brotherhood members. Former presidential candidate Mohamed Selim al-Awa as well as a number of lawyers defended Mekki who was acquitted of all charges.

Confirmed reports circulated that he rejected a Brotherhood offer to nominate himself in the recent presidential elections.