The Lead
An expanded panel of 11 High Court of Justice justices is convening Sunday morning to hear petitions against a significant amendment to the Judicial Selection Committee. The reform, passed by the Knesset in March 2025, fundamentally alters the committee's composition by removing representatives from the Israel Bar Association and replacing them with legal experts appointed by the Knesset.
The High Court of Justice is entering a high-stakes legal deliberation today as it reviews petitions against the March 2025 amendment to the Judicial Selection Committee. This hearing marks a critical juncture in the ongoing debate over the balance of power between Israel's judicial and legislative branches. The amendment at the center of the case removes the long-standing presence of the Israel Bar Association from the selection process, granting the Knesset the authority to appoint legal experts in their stead.
This case carries profound constitutional weight. If the High Court decides to intervene and strike down the amendment, it would represent only the second time in Israel's history that a Basic Law—which holds quasi-constitutional status—has been invalidated by the judiciary. The first such instance occurred when the court nullified the law stripping the judiciary of the 'reasonableness' standard.
Analysts note that the court's decision to convene an expanded 11-justice panel underscores the gravity of the constitutional questions at hand. The petitioners argue that the change undermines the independence of the judicial selection process, while proponents of the reform maintain that it increases democratic accountability by placing the appointment power in the hands of elected representatives. The proceedings are being closely watched as they may define the limits of the Knesset's constituent power and the High Court's authority to review Basic Laws.
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