Opposition MKs accuse Justice Minister Yair Levin of attempting to influence High Court
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Opposition MKs slam Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s call for the High Court of Justice not to publish its opinion on the reasonableness law during wartime, saying he knows full well that this would ultimately swing the court’s decision in favor of the government.
Former Supreme Court president Esther Hayut and former Supreme Court justice Anat Baron both retired in the middle of October and can only issue rulings on cases they heard up to the middle of January.
Since both are reportedly in favor of striking down the law, with the court split 8-7 in favor of striking it down, waiting till after the war would create a majority against annulling the legislation.
“This is an idiotic attempt by the justice minister to influence the ruling while it is still being written,” Yesh Atid MK Meirav Cohen writes on X.
“He knows that two judges including the former court president can’t issue rulings after January 12 and he knows the war won’t be over by then. The justice minister is basically trying to influence the High Court’s ruling by retroactively changing the composition of the bench.”
Fellow Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar tells Levin his comments show he doesn’t understand the role of the judiciary.
“They aren’t politicians and their job is to rule on petitions without instructions from anyone, including the justice minister. The minister is expected to respect every ruling even if he doesn’t agree with it,” she writes in a post on X.
