Court rejects Rothman request for restraining orders on protesters

A judge has ruled that MK Simcha Rothman cannot demand restraining orders on 400 activists who he feared would protest him while on vacation over the weekend.

Magistrate’s court judge Naeel Mohana initially shortened Rothman’s request from every member of a WhatsApp group dedicated to hounding him over the judicial overhaul to three specific activists. But he also rejects the request for restraining orders on the trio, saying the protest is legitimate speech and he sees no reason to curtail it.

However, the judge also suggests that protests against Rothman when his children are present be limited, to avoid their pictures being taken and distributed against their parents’ wishes.

Rothman, one of the architects of the overhaul, has had a number of run-ins with protesters, including a May incident in which snatched a megaphone from a protester marching behind him while walking in New York City.