‘Improper political intervention’: AG slams Levin’s request to delay picking Supreme Court chief

Left: Justice Minister Yariv Levin speaks during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Right: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a conference at the University of Haifa, December 15, 2022. (Shir Torem/Flash90)
Left: Justice Minister Yariv Levin speaks during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 11, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Right: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a conference at the University of Haifa, December 15, 2022. (Shir Torem/Flash90)

Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara warns Justice Minister Yariv Levin to abandon his latest attempt to delay the appointment of a Supreme Court president after he requested a fresh extension last night, citing fresh allegations of misconduct against leading candidate Isaac Amit.

The Supreme Court, sitting in its capacity as the High Court, has ordered Levin three times to appoint a new president and gave him until January 26 to do so.

New allegations earlier this week that Amit had sat on cases in which he had conflicts of interest prompted Levin to demand answers from Amit and an investigation. Rather than an investigation, however, the Judicial Selection Committee’s legal advisor was instructed by Baharav Miara to pass the allegations and Amit’s response to the committee for it to review and decide.

Levin has yet to schedule a hearing of the Judicial Selection Committee, ahead of the deadline on Sunday.

In response to his request for another extension, Baharav Miara tells Levin that at this stage, all the necessary information is in the hands of the committee, and as such, there is no reason for additional delays.

She criticizes the various “different and contradictory” ways in which Levin has sought to bring a complaint and open an investigation into Amit without convening the Judicial Selection Committee, saying that it “raises serious concerns that the goal is to avoid enforcing the decisions of the Supreme Court.”

“The allegations and responses are with the committee, and you have the opportunity to bring it any material you believe relevant,” she writes. “Therefore, there is no room at this time for further consideration by a party external to the committee, including legal and public advisory bodies.”

She further warns that his efforts to launch an investigation into Amit through non-traditional channels are “an attempt at improper political intervention” and “a further violation of the separation of powers.”

Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.

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