Judicial Selection Committee makes permanent appointments to courts after almost two years

Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter

The Judicial Selection Committee meets for the first time in over 18 months in Jerusalem, on November 16, 2023. (GPO)
The Judicial Selection Committee meets for the first time in over 18 months in Jerusalem, on November 16, 2023. (GPO)

For the first time in almost two years, the Judicial Selection Committee makes permanent judicial appointments.

Three judges and two acting judges are appointed to the Nazareth District Court in northern Israel, and seven judges and four acting judges are appointed to the Haifa District Court.

In addition, one new judge is appointed to the Eilat Magistrate’s Court.

The Judicial Selection Committee says in its announcement that the panel will consider candidates for magistrate’s courts in the same districts in its next meeting on February 29.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin refused to convene the Judicial Selection Committee for some 10 months after the coalition came into power, intending to change its composition to exert greater government control over the crucial panel.

Legal pressure stemming from petitions to the High Court of Justice against this stance forced him to convene the panel in November, however, leading to today’s appointments.

Until today there were over 50 unfilled judicial vacancies on the various courts. The last time appointments were made was in April 2022 under the previous government.

There are still two vacancies on the Supreme Court, and Levin has declined to appoint a new Supreme Court president.

Most Popular