RIYADH: Criminal cases in the Kingdom will be heard by a three-judge panel at criminal courts after the head of the Supreme Judicial Council approved the decision, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The decision will be implemented gradually in collaboration with the relevant departments of the council and the Ministry of Justice. Walid Al-Samaani, the head of the council, has issued a series of decisions aimed at promoting judicial safeguards and enhancing the quality of judgments. These include approval for family cases to be exclusively heard by 12 personal status courts and a selection of personal status panels in general courts located in regions that do not have personal status courts available.