Judicial Selection Committee
The Judicial Selection Committee is the statutory body responsible for appointing judges to all levels of the Israeli court system. Established in 1953, it has become the focal point of a profound constitutional struggle between the executive and judicial branches regarding the balance of power and the influence of political actors over the bench.
The Judicial Selection Committee is a nine-member body designed to ensure a professional and independent judiciary by balancing representatives from the government, the Knesset, the Supreme Court, and the Israel Bar Association. Traditionally, appointments to the Supreme Court required a majority of seven out of nine members, effectively granting the sitting justices a veto over new colleagues. This structure has been a cornerstone of Israeli democracy for decades, intended to insulate the courts from partisan shifts.
Since early 2023, the committee has been at the heart of the government's judicial reform initiatives. Proponents of reform, led by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and MK Simcha Rothman, argue that the current composition allows an unelected judicial elite to perpetuate its own ideological worldview, creating a 'democratic deficit.' They advocate for a system that grants the elected coalition greater weight in the selection process. Conversely, opponents and members of the judiciary warn that politicizing the committee would compromise judicial independence and erode the protection of minority rights.
In March 2025, the Knesset passed a significant amendment to the committee's structure, known as the Levin-Saar compromise. This law removed the two representatives of the Israel Bar Association, replacing them with legal experts appointed by the Knesset, and eliminated the judges' veto over Supreme Court appointments. The High Court of Justice is currently reviewing petitions against this amendment. In June 2026, an expanded panel of 15 justices convened to hear these challenges, marking a rare and critical constitutional moment. Supreme Court President Isaac Amit has warned that purely political appointments could fundamentally reshape the judiciary within 15 years, potentially embedding a 'political chip' in every judge. Despite the ongoing legal battle over its structure, the committee continues to function, recently approving the promotion of approximately 50 judges to district and magistrate courts to address the system's operational needs.