Supreme Court Justices Order Chief Justice Amit to Pay Petitioner's Costs

In a highly unusual decision, three Israeli Supreme Court justices have ordered Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit to personally pay 4,000 shekels in legal costs to a petitioner. The ruling came as part of a petition filed by Michal Dorot Halevy against Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Chief Justice Amit. The petition was filed under the State Comptroller Law.

Although the court ultimately dismissed the petition, the three-judge panel, consisting of Justices Daphne Barak-Erez, Yael Willner, and Gila Kenfy-Steinholtz, decided to impose the costs specifically on Chief Justice Amit, who was the second respondent in the case. The justices cited the lengthy time elapsed since the petition was filed and the expenses allegedly incurred by the petitioner as reasons for their decision.

In their ruling, the justices acknowledged the complexity of the proceedings and the efforts made to find a candidate for a position, as well as the fact that no hearing was held. However, they also emphasized the significant time that had passed since the petition's submission. "Considering, on the one hand, the complexity of the proceedings given the detailed background in the petition; the efforts made to locate a candidate for the position; and the fact that no hearing was held on the petition, and on the other hand, the time that has passed since the petition was filed and the expenses incurred by the petitioner, according to her claim, we are obligating the second respondent to bear the petitioner's expenses in the amount of 4,000 NIS," the judgment stated.

Chief Justice Amit was represented by attorney Moria Freeman, while Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana was represented by attorney Yitzhak Bart. Despite both being respondents, only Amit was ordered to pay the costs. The ruling was issued on August 31, 2026.