From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
New High Court hearing begins over Levin’s refusal to make judicial appointments
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
A High Court of Justice hearing begins over a petition against Justice Minister Yariv Levin for failing to make key appointments in the judiciary, including the appointment of district court presidents and their deputies.
The High Court has already issued a conditional order against Levin over the petitions following an earlier hearing on the case in February, ordering him to justify his ongoing refusal to make the appointments and cooperate with Supreme Court President Isaac Amit.
The appointments have not been made because they require the approval of Amit as president, but Levin has refused to recognize him as the head of the court ever since he was appointed in January 2025.
Levin had at the time refused to appoint a new court president for 16 months, and the High Court eventually ordered him to hold a vote, leading to Amit’s installment, and the justice minister’s subsequent boycott.
Levin has argued that as justice minister he has the sole authority to convene the Judicial Selection Committee to make the appointments, and that the court has no right to intervene.
In a separate but similar case, Yesh Atid MK Karine Elaharrar who sits on the Judicial Selection Committee for the opposition accused Levin of stymieing judicial appointments since he lacks a majority to force through appointments he seeks and block candidates he opposes.
The petition is being heard by Justices Ofer Grosskopf, Alex Stein, and Yechiel Kasher.
The Times of Israel Community.