Benjamin NetanyahuGeneral NewsIsraelIsrael governmentMiddle EastU.S. Supreme CourtWorld News Junior Conservative Justice Contends for Leadership of Israel’s Supreme Court, Amplifying Tensions in an Already Strained Judiciary by Joshua Brown August 30, 2023 written by Joshua Brown August 30, 2023 0 comments Bookmark 36 On Wednesday, a lower-ranking conservative justice initiated a campaign to secure the presidency of Israel’s Supreme Court. This marks an extraordinary development that, according to legal scholars, poses yet another threat to the judicial body’s autonomy. This occurs as the far-right administration led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes forward with a controversial plan to reform the country’s judiciary. Traditionally, the committee responsible for choosing the Supreme Court’s president has invariably selected the most senior judge for the role. Judge Yosef Elron’s recent decision to vie for the position, which will be vacated by current president Esther Hayut in October, breaks with this longstanding custom. Isaac Amit, the justice poised to succeed Hayut based on the seniority principle, is a liberal who has served on the bench for over ten years. Conversely, Elron, who joined the court in 2017 and is its most conservative member, appears to have the support of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the principal driver behind the disputed judicial reforms. By disrupting the traditional framework of seniority-based appointments, Elron’s candidacy risks heightening political tensions within the court. This could lead to a situation where justices compete for committee endorsements, undermining their independence, warn legal scholars. “Observers interpret this as a continuation of the judicial revamping and a significant indication of a shift in the legal system,” said Amir Fuchs, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, a think tank based in Jerusalem. “Once the criterion of seniority is eradicated, it becomes evident to all justices that their evaluation will be determined by the ruling coalition, thereby compromising their independence.” Amichai Cohen, a professor of constitutional law, noted that although Elron’s chances of being elected as court president are slim, his candidacy could intensify divisions between liberal and conservative justices. This comes ahead of two crucial decisions slated for next month, concerning the scope of the court’s authority. Levin, a close ally of Netanyahu, has been working to alter the composition of the committee responsible for selecting judges, including the president of the Supreme Court, through legislative means. His efforts have been stymied in the parliament, leading him to delay convening the committee. In the upcoming September session, the court will review petitions opposing Levin’s decision to suspend committee meetings. Simultaneously, the court will consider challenges to the initial phase of the judicial reform, which was enacted by Netanyahu’s government in July. Advocates of the far-right, ultra-Orthodox coalition led by Netanyahu argue that the reform is necessary to curtail the influence of liberal, non-elected judges over elected officials. They also contend that the court should not have the power to invalidate legislation that restricts its own authority. The judicial overhaul has sparked widespread protests that have persisted for several months. Should the court nullify the new legislative measures, the Netanyahu government could potentially disregard the verdict, thereby instigating a crisis concerning the ultimate source of authority. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Judicial Reform in IsraelWhat is the significance of Judge Yosef Elron’s decision to run for the presidency of Israel’s Supreme Court?Who is expected to replace the current president, Esther Hayut, based on traditional seniority norms?What are legal experts saying about the implications of Elron’s candidacy?How is Justice Minister Yariv Levin involved in the ongoing judicial reforms?What are the upcoming challenges faced by Israel’s Supreme Court?What do supporters of Netanyahu’s government say about the judicial reforms?What could happen if the Supreme Court nullifies the new legislative measures?More about Judicial Reform in Israel Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Judicial Reform in Israel What is the significance of Judge Yosef Elron’s decision to run for the presidency of Israel’s Supreme Court? Judge Yosef Elron’s decision to contend for the presidency of Israel’s Supreme Court is a break from tradition, where the most senior judge is typically nominated for this position. His candidacy is particularly noteworthy as it is in line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government’s controversial plan to reform the judicial system, which has already garnered much debate and protests. Who is expected to replace the current president, Esther Hayut, based on traditional seniority norms? According to traditional seniority norms, Justice Isaac Amit, a liberal who has served on the court for over a decade, was poised to succeed Esther Hayut as the next president of the Supreme Court. What are legal experts saying about the implications of Elron’s candidacy? Legal scholars have expressed concerns that Elron’s candidacy threatens to further politicize the Supreme Court and undermine its independence. If the tradition of seniority-based appointments is disrupted, justices might find themselves competing for committee endorsements, thus compromising the impartiality and autonomy of the court. How is Justice Minister Yariv Levin involved in the ongoing judicial reforms? Justice Minister Yariv Levin is a key figure pushing for the reform of Israel’s judicial system. He has sought to change the composition of the committee responsible for selecting judges, including the president of the Supreme Court. His efforts have been stalled in the parliament, but he has been avoiding convening the committee as a result. What are the upcoming challenges faced by Israel’s Supreme Court? In September, the Supreme Court is set to hear petitions challenging Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s decision to suspend committee meetings. The court will also consider challenges to the initial phase of the judicial reform, which was enacted by Netanyahu’s government in July. What do supporters of Netanyahu’s government say about the judicial reforms? Supporters argue that the reforms will prevent liberal, non-elected judges from interfering with the decisions of elected lawmakers. They believe that the court should not have the power to nullify legislation that limits its own authority. What could happen if the Supreme Court nullifies the new legislative measures? If the Supreme Court nullifies the new legislation, it is possible that Netanyahu’s government could choose to ignore the court’s ruling. This would set the stage for a constitutional crisis concerning which entity has the ultimate source of authority in Israel. More about Judicial Reform in Israel Overview of Israel’s Judicial System Biography of Justice Esther Hayut Political History of Benjamin Netanyahu Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s Judicial Reforms Israel Democracy Institute Research Legal Implications of Disrupting Judicial Seniority Far-Right and Ultra-Orthodox Coalition in Israel’s Government Public Protests Against Judicial Reforms in Israel Constitutional Crisis in Israel: A Historical Perspective Committee for Selecting Judges in Israel’s Legal System You Might Be Interested In Long heritage of Native Hawaiian gender-fluidity showcased in Las Vegas drag show 77th Wedding Anniversary Celebrated by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in their Plains, Georgia Home Son of US Sen. 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He has a keen interest in social justice issues and is passionate about using his platform to give a voice to underrepresented communities. previous post Former Roman Catholic Cardinal McCarrick, Aged 93, Deemed Incompetent for Trial on Charges of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor next post Johnny & Associates founder Kitagawa sexually assaulted hundreds of teens, investigation finds You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ