Esther Hayut

Likud MK Amir Ohana delivers his first speech as justice minister at a conference of the Israel Bar Association, Jerusalem, June 10, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 23, 2019, 7:46 pm

New justice minister takes office after questioning High Court rulings

Amir Ohana says he’s seeking to ‘strengthen,’ not destroy, the judiciary; urges justices to avoid criticizing the government

By TOI staff

June 20, 2019, 6:13 pm

New justice minister meets Supreme Court chief after questioning its rulings

Amir Ohana told an interviewer last week that not all court rulings must be obeyed, leading Chief Justice Esther Hayut to warn of ‘anarchy’

By TOI staff

Amir Ohana, newly appointed Israeli Justice Minister seen during his swearing in ceremony at the Knesset assembly hall in Jerusalem, on June 12, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 14, 2019, 11:48 am

Justice minister’s claim that a High Court ruling enabled terror attack queried

Amir Ohana asserted court prevented demolition of Gaza homes used for cover by killers, but Haaretz reports it was the state that ultimately backed away from the move

By TOI staff

Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit attends a farewell ceremony at the Ministry of Justice offices in Jerusalem on June 4, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

June 13, 2019, 5:50 pm

AG joins Supreme Court president in harsh criticism of new justice minister

After Amir Ohana suggests not all court verdicts should be honored, Avichai Mandelblit says accepting decisions is ‘axiomatic’

By TOI staff

Supreme Court President Esther Hayut attends the Israel Prize ceremony in Jerusalem, on Israel's 71st Independence Day, May 9, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2019, 12:17 pm

Supreme Court chief accuses new justice minister of leading Israel to ‘anarchy’

In unprecedented attack, Esther Hayut castigates ‘irresponsible’ Amir Ohana for suggesting not all court rulings should be honored

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meeting Supreme Court President Esther Hayut and her deputy Hanan Melcer (L) at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on May 28, 2019. (Courtesy)

May 28, 2019, 11:35 pm

PM meets Supreme Court chief, a day after she slams him over judicial reforms

Netanyahu and Esther Hayut urge ‘respectful dialogue’ between Knesset and legal system, toning down fiery rhetoric from ruling party in favor of limiting court’s powers

By TOI staff

Chief Supreme Court Justice Esther Hayut adresses a legal conference in Eilat on May 27, 2019. (Screen capture/Channel 12)

May 27, 2019, 12:57 pm

‘What’s changed?’ Supreme Court head asks PM, who once lauded strong judiciary

For second time in as many weeks, Esther Hayut swipes at Netanyahu’s plan to shatter judicial oversight, quoting 2017 remarks in which he emphasized importance of independent court

By Jacob Magid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City with his son Yair, a day after winning Knesset elections, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 15, 2019, 7:41 am

Netanyahu’s son lashes chief justice for purportedly comparing his dad to Hitler

Right-wing pundits criticize Esther Hayut for speech in Nuremberg arguing the rise of Nazi Germany showed importance of judicial independence

By TOI staff

Supreme Court President Esther Hayut arrives for a court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, March 14, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 14, 2019, 1:11 pm

Supreme Court president invokes Nazi era in implicit swipe at Netanyahu

Esther Hayut says judicial institutions can’t ‘withstand every attack’; PM said to be seeking legislation that would shatter judicial oversight

By Michael Bachner

Idit Silman of Union of Right-Wing Parties holds a certificate congratulating her on her election to the 21st Knesset, April 30, 2019 (Courtesy of the Knesset)

April 30, 2019, 2:04 pm

21st Knesset set to be sworn in with largest freshmen crop

120 lawmakers will pledge allegiance to the State of Israel and promise to fulfill their obligations as MKs

By Raoul Wootliff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, February 5, 2019. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

March 18, 2019, 7:18 pm

Court: Netanyahu can again seek permission to okay funding of his legal defense

Panel has already ruled twice that wealthy foreign acquaintances cannot foot PM’s hefty bills in the pending corruption indictments he faces

By TOI staff

Hadash co-leader Ofer Cassif at a Supreme Court hearing in Jerusalem about his disqualification from running in the elections, March 13, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 13, 2019, 7:18 pm

Supreme Court debates election disqualification of Jewish far-left candidate

Full bench of 9 justices hear arguments to bar Hadash-Ta’al member Ofer Kasif from running in April ballot due to comments equating Israel with Nazis

By Raoul Wootliff

Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut speaks at the Annual International Conference of the Institute for National Security Studies, Tel Aviv, January 29, 2019 (Flash90)

January 29, 2019, 2:50 pm

Chief justice slams ‘belligerent’ political attacks on courts

Hayut says criticism legitimate but language used in attacks is ‘regrettable’; defends ruling on legality of defense decisions

By TOI staff

Israel Bar Association former chairman Efi Nave is seen at a Tel Aviv court on January 16, 2019 (Koko/Pool/Flash90)

January 18, 2019, 5:33 pm

Suspicions former top lawyer helped intern pass bar exam in exchange for sex

Police question woman as witness over whether scandal-plagued Efi Nave also helped her find a job in return for sex; intern said to deny she received benefits from relationship

By TOI staff

Attorney Efi Nave, chairman of the Israel Bar Association, seen here when he was the IBA Tel Aviv district chief, April 24, 2013. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

January 18, 2019, 12:50 pm

Police reject claim evidence tainted in case against former Bar Association head

Investigators says probe into Efi Nave being done ‘lawfully’ amid allegations phone with incriminating evidence was obtained improperly

By TOI staff