Reformist Egyptian judges Mahmud Mekki and Hisham Al Bastawissi face disciplinary hearings before Justice Minister Mahmud Abuleil, a judicial source reported Monday. The judges may possibly be terminated for leaking information to the press during last year’s parliamentary elections [JURIST news archive] when they accused other judges of election fraud [JURIST report].

While the Egyptian constitution [text] provides that judges supervise the polls, the Judges Club, a professional association of Egyptian jurists, rejected last years’ parliamentary election results as riddled with irregularities and influenced by "aggression and acts of thuggery" by the ruling National Democratic Party [official website, English version]. In addition, members of the association demonstrated in support of greater judicial independence [JURIST report] last month after the government stripped 6 judges of their immunity [JURIST report] for challenging the poll. AFP has more.