The High Court of Justice convened Sunday morning with all 15 justices — the first full-panel hearing since the reasonableness standard debate — to hear petitions against the law altering the Judicial Selection Committee. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit opened by stating that "there is no dispute that the legislation made a significant change in the way judges are selected in Israel."
The High Court of Justice began hearing petitions against the Knesset's amendment to the Judicial Selection Committee on Sunday morning, convening a rare full panel of all 15 justices — the first such plenum since the 2023 reasonableness standard debate. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit opened the proceedings by acknowledging the legislation's far-reaching impact on judicial selection, as reported by N12.
The petitions challenge a Basic Law amendment that replaces the Israel Bar Association's two representatives on the committee with appointees chosen by Knesset factions. As The Zioneer reported earlier this morning, MKs Tali Gottlieb (Likud) and Karin Elharrar (Yesh Atid) arrived at the court ahead of the hearing.
The court's decision in this case carries significant weight for the balance of power between the judicial and legislative branches, with potential implications for future judicial appointments. The hearing continues.
3 developments
- DevelopingLevin demands immediate Knesset vote to strip High Court of authority over Basic Laws
- DevelopingCritic slams Chief Justice for unilateral Basic Law veto, calls democracy 'flawed'
- DevelopingMK Kastel slams High Court direction in judicial selection hearing as 'scandal'
- DevelopingSaar defends judicial selection reform as 'moderate,' warns radical changes will follow compromise rejection
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