Israel Bar Association selects new representative on Judicial Selection Committee

The Israel Bar Association elects Yonit Calmanovich to serve as one of its two representatives on the Judicial Selection Committee.

Calmanovich replaces Ilana Seker, whose term on the influential committee expired.

Calmanovich was elected by the IBA’s National Council by a vote of 30 to 1 against Tamar Arbel, and joins her IBA colleague Attorney Muhamad Naamneh on the panel.

The IBA describes Calmanovich as “an experienced legal consultant” with experience in “business negotiations, establishing and managing legal departments,” as well as having “extensive experience working with state authorities and public bodies.”

Thanking the council for the vote, Calmanovich pledges to fulfill her new position “professionally, diligently and faithfully to the values of law and democracy in order to maintain an independent, high-quality and professional legal system.”

The elections to head the IBA back in June were won in a landslide by Amit Becher, a fervent opponent of the government’s judicial overhaul agenda which sought to exert government control over the judiciary.

The government had furtively backed Becher’s opponent Efi Naveh in order to exert greater influence over the identity of the IBA’s committee representatives, but Becher’s victory cemented liberal domination of the Judicial Selection Committee, which selects all judges to Israeli courts.

Becher echoed Calmanovich’s comments in congratulating her on her victory, saying she would “help us realize our vision and our promise to keep the judicial system independent and strong, ensure the election of professional judges, and fight for the image and character of the State of Israel.”