Justice minister delays meeting of politically fraught judge selection panel

Justice Minister Yariv Levin postpones a meeting of the Judicial Selection Committee that had been set for tomorrow, saying that Knesset votes on the supplementary budget for 2023 scheduled for the same day mean it would be impossible to convene the panel since he and other government and coalition representatives would be unable to attend.

The committee, which selects all judges in Israel, was supposed to have initiated proceedings for filling the open seat currently on the Supreme Court and possibly appoint a new Supreme Court president.

A new date for convening the committee has not been set.

The panel met in November for the first time since April 2022, following Levin’s 10-month refusal to convene it out of a desire to first change its composition to give the government control over judicial appointments.

Committee member and Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar describes Levin’s rationale for postponing the meeting as “an excuse that fell like a ripe fruit for the minister,” and calls on him to immediately set a new date for convening the panel.

“He must compose himself for the seriousness of this time and the severe shortage of judges, and act to work toward professional and independent appointments for the benefit of the Israeli people.”