Police won’t request investigation of acting Supreme Court chief over conflict of interest allegations

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

Acting Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, November 14, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Acting Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, November 14, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The head of the police investigations department, Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt, says he will not seek to open an investigation into Acting Supreme Court Justice Isaac Amit for alleged misconduct regarding civil lawsuits involving property the judge owned.

“No suspicion of criminal violations arose, and there is no basis requiring a request to the attorney general to open a criminal investigation,” Hebrew media reported Blatt as saying regarding the issue.

Media reports earlier this week alleged that the civil lawsuits put Amit in a conflict of interest in other court proceedings he was involved in as a judge which also involved parties connected to the civil lawsuits. Amit said he had given his brother power of attorney over the property in question and was unaware of the proceedings, and therefore unaware he might have a conflict of interest.

Despite the police declining to investigate, Justice Minister Yariv Levin requests that the legal adviser to the Justice Ministry and the Judicial Selection Committee file a formal complaint to begin disciplinary proceedings against Amit, accusing him of violating ethical regulations and conflict of interest laws.

Following the reports about Amit’s civil lawsuits and possible conflict of interests, Levin told the High Court of Justice yesterday that he was postponing a vote in the Judicial Selection Committee on appointing a new Supreme Court president until the allegations against Amit could be clarified.

The High Court in December ordered Levin to hold a vote by today, following 15 months in which the justice minister refused to do so because he strongly opposes Amit, a liberal, becoming president, an appointment he is likely to receive if there is a vote in committee.

The court asked the attorney general for her response to Levin’s announcement by this morning, before making a decision.

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