In an unusual statement during a discussion on the law to change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, Supreme Court President Isaac Amit proposed removing two politicians from the panel instead of replacing the Israel Bar Association representatives, according to Israeli media.
President Yitzhak Amit made an unusual intervention on Sunday during the High Court's expanded hearing on the judicial selection reform, proposing to remove two politicians from the committee instead of the Israel Bar Association representatives. The comment, reported by N12, came amid debate over the Levin-Saar compromise bill that would replace Bar Association members with coalition and opposition appointees. Amit's suggestion would maintain professional representation on the panel while reducing political influence — a position that could shift the terms of the discussion. The 11-justice panel is hearing petitions challenging the legislation, which critics argue would concentrate power in the governing coalition.
Sunday's session follows a full 15-justice hearing earlier this morning on the same set of petitions. As The Zioneer reported, Amit opened the expanded hearing by asserting the court's authority to review and strike Basic Laws. The current reform would remove the judges' veto over Supreme Court appointments, a change Levin has championed. Amit's alternative — removing politicians rather than lawyers — has not been formally proposed in the legislation.
3 developments
- DevelopingAmit suggests removing politicians from Judicial Selection Committee
- DevelopingSupreme Court President warns political appointments will reshape judiciary within 15 years
- ConfirmedSupreme Court President calls political identification chips in judges threat to judicial independence
- DevelopingMK Rothman ally posts that Supreme Court President is a 'politician' seeking to preserve power
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