Supreme Court President Urges New Judges to Uphold Independence

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit urged newly sworn-in judges to maintain their independence and assured them that the judicial system would support them, even when making difficult or unpopular decisions. Speaking at a ceremony for new judges at the President's Residence, Amit emphasized that their judicial backbone would be tested by life's challenges in Israel.

Amit referenced the Basic Law: Judiciary, stating that a judge's only authority in matters of judgment is the law itself. He highlighted judicial independence as a cornerstone of Israel's legal system, while also quoting former Supreme Court Justice Tzvi Berenson, who said, "Justice is justice if it is justice of the right," and that "the good heart is the main thing."

Much of Amit's speech focused on the judiciary's operations since the October 7th Hamas attack. He described courts functioning under missile fire, judges making painful decisions in the initial hours of the assault, and instances like a request for sperm retrieval being handled by a judge sheltering in a safe room, with a handwritten application submitted by a bereaved family member to allow for a hearing.

He shared anecdotes of judges offering personal support to grieving families, courts allowing displaced individuals to file cases anywhere in the country, and proceedings taking place under missile alerts. Amit also noted that court buildings, including the Weizmann Hall in Tel Aviv and the Haifa courthouse, sustained damage from missile strikes during military operations, yet staff found solutions to continue serving the public.

Amit specifically addressed Ingrid Har-Even, sworn in as a family court judge in Jerusalem, whose son, Major Shilo Har-Even, was killed on October 7th. He also extended condolences to Judge Rona Persson, whose son, Sergeant Major Itai Person, a Yamam officer, fell in battle shortly before the ceremony. Amit concluded by reiterating his advice to the new judges: adhere to the law, preserve their independence, and do not fear making difficult, unpopular rulings.