Newly formed coalition-controlled panel picks Asher Kula as ombudsman for judges
Selection committee was formed as part of judicial overhaul, gives advantage to governing coalition in deciding who will monitor judges’ conduct
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Retired Judge Asher Kula was selected on Thursday by a newly formed statutory committee to serve as the state ombudsman for judges, after a year in which the position had been vacant.
Kula was first elected to serve as a judge in 2004 and served as deputy president of the Nazareth District Court from 2021 to 2024 when he retired.
The committee for appointing the state ombudsman for judges selected Kula for the post in a 5-2 vote, with former deputy Supreme Court president Elyakim Rubinstein and former president of the National Labor Court Varda Wirth Livne voting against.
Rubinstein and Wirth Livne were of the opinion that since the position of ombudsman has been filled until now only by retired Supreme Court judges, it was appropriate to choose one of the retired district court presidents for the post.
The ombudsman oversees disciplinary procedures against judges. The role involves investigating complaints made about the conduct of judges — including how they manage proceedings over which they preside, how they conduct trials, and any misconduct outside the court — and recommending disciplinary measures if necessary.
The committee to appoint the ombudsman was only recently formed after the government forced through legislation in the Knesset giving the serving coalition an automatic majority on the panel, whereas previously, the president of the Supreme Court and the justice minister would agree on a candidate who was confirmed by the Judicial Selection Committee.
Government watchdog groups petitioned the High Court of Justice against the legislation.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who is one of the primary proponents of the new selection process and is engaged in an ongoing battle with the judiciary, welcomed Kula’s appointment, saying that the ombudsman “plays a central role in strengthening public confidence in the judicial system, through external, effective and independent oversight.”
The Judicial Authority, which represents the judiciary, also welcomed Kula’s appointment, although it added that it was of the position during the legislative process for the new appointments system that a retired Supreme Court judge or retired district court president should fill the role.
“This is without detracting from the estimation for Judge Kula,” the Judicial Authority said in its statement, saying it would work with him “to strengthen public trust” in the judicial system.
The Times of Israel Community.