Shameem selected from 10 candidates to lead the Department of Judicial Administration

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has appointed prominent lawyer Adam Shameem as the Chief Judicial Administrator, filling the judiciary’s highest administrative post after a vacancy of more than two months.

Shameem was selected from 10 candidates who applied for the position. The post became vacant following the resignation of Amjad Musthafa, who stepped down in April and now serves as President of the Employment Tribunal.

A well-known figure in the Maldivian legal sector, Shameem heads the law firm Adam Shameem Legal. He has been a licensed lawyer since 2012, was admitted to practice in the High Court on 24 November 2013, and to the Supreme Court on 29 January 2019.

Shameem previously served on former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s legal defence team during appeal proceedings. He also contested the 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate. In earlier years, he was among those who cleared their criminal records to qualify for the Prosecutor General (PG) vacancy.

Prior to his appointment, Shameem worked as a Senior Under Secretary at the President’s Office.

As Chief Judicial Administrator, Shameem will lead the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA), the institution responsible for managing the judiciary’s administrative affairs nationwide.

The key responsibilities of the Chief Judicial Administrator include:

• Formulating and strengthening the administrative structure of all courts under the judiciary.  

• Managing administrative staff, including hiring, promotion, disciplinary action and dismissal, in consultation with the highest administrative officials of each court.  

• Appointing and dismissing court registrars.  

• Planning and implementing training and refresher programs for judges, JSC members and judicial staff.  

• Consulting with the JSC on determining the number of judges required for courts.  

• Managing budgets, resources and administrative operations of the judiciary in line with JSC policies and regulations.  

• Addressing administrative challenges and improving the delivery of court services to the public.

The Chief Judicial Administrator is appointed by the JSC for a five-year term.