High Court begins hearing on law increasing political power over judicial appointments, a key part of the overhaul

The High Court of Justice begins a hearing on the legislative cornerstone of the government’s judicial overhaul agenda, as it it hears petitions against a law passed in March 2025 that will greatly increase the power of politicians in the appointment of judges.

The petitions are being heard by all 11 justices currently serving on the court, which only happens for the most constitutionally significant cases.

Several government watchdog groups and civil rights organizations have petitioned against the legislation, arguing that increased political control over all judicial appointments, especially to the Supreme Court, will undercut the independence of the judiciary and poses a severe danger to Israeli democracy as a result.

They also argue that the changes dramatically reduce the influence of professional legal input in the judicial selection process in favor of political influence, which will eventually politicize the entire judiciary.

The coalition argued in passing the law that the judiciary itself has too much control over judicial appointments, and that the political echelon has a right to greater influence over the process, especially when the High Court has the authority to annul legislation.

The law itself was passed as an amendment to Basic Law: the Judiciary, meaning that it has quasi-constitutional status. Such laws are especially controversial for the High Court to review, with the right wing arguing that the court has no authority to intervene over them given their constitutional nature.