High Court Hears Challenge to New Judicial Appointments Law

Israel’s Supreme Court, sitting as a full 11-judge bench on Sunday, heard petitions seeking to strike down the law that changed the composition of the committee for selecting judges. The challenge argues that removing the Bar Association’s representatives and giving elected officials a built-in majority undermines democracy and the separation of powers. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit said at the start of the hearing that the amendments had “a substantial change” in how judges are appointed in Israel, creating a political majority of six out of nine committee members. He noted that the petitioners accuse the process of politicizing judicial selection and harming the rule of law, while Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara supports their position.