4 of 2011 following the 2011 Libyan Civil War as a replacement for the Muammar Gaddafi-era High Council of Judicial Bodies that was created in 2006, with the aim of having more independence from other components of the governmental system.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) judged this change to "significantly [enhance]" the independence of the judiciary.
[1]: 24 In 2016, the ICJ made detailed recommendations for strengthening the "[institutional, financial and administrative independence]" of the SJC from the executive branch of government.
"[4] The SJC aimed to retain its unity as a national body during the continuing political and military Libyan conflict that started in 2014.
It met with the head of the Presidential Council and of the Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, in July 2016,[5] and as of mid 2017, held regular monthly meetings in Benghazi.