High Court rejects Levin’s latest request to delay picking Supreme Court Chief

The High Court of Justice rejects Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s request to delay the appointment of a Supreme Court president after he said he required more time due to fresh allegations of misconduct against the leading candidate, acting president Isaac Amit.

The Supreme Court, acting as the High Court, had ordered Levin three times to appoint a new president. The latest order was on January 16, when it gave him until January 26 after allegations of misconduct were raised against Amit.

Levin has yet to schedule a hearing of the Judicial Selection Committee, which appoints the Supreme Court president, before Sunday’s deadline.

In its response to his request for another delay, the court points out that the allegations against Amit, and his response, have been received by the Judicial Selection Committee, and there is no reason to put off convening it.

“If the committee believes that it needs additional time to fully discuss the allegations raised before it…it is assumed that it will decide on the matter during its meeting on January 26, 2025,” the decision states.

The court says that Levin should therefore raise the issue with the committee when it meets on Sunday, and not with the High Court.