From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
In unprecedented challenge, Justice Elron proposes himself for High Court president
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
In an unprecedented step, Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron presents his candidacy to become Supreme Court president once current president Justice Esther Hayut steps down on October 16.
Elron’s request, submitted to Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Hayut, comes against the background of Levin’s intention to abandon the seniority system whereby the most senior judge on the Supreme Court is appointed as the next president.
Every president of the Supreme Court until now has been appointed through the seniority system, with only the most senior justice on the court submitting their name to the Judicial Selection Committee for the position.
Following Elron’s request, Hayut decides to remove Elron, a conservative justice, from the High Court panel set to hear petitions against Levin’s refusal to convene the Judicial Selection Committee.
If the seniority system is followed, the next president of the court will be Justice Isaac Amit, a liberal figure.
Levin seeks to appoint a conservative to the presidency, whose considerable powers have a major influence on key matters regarding the composition of Supreme Court panels and other issues.
