The Movement for Governance and Democracy on Sunday asked the Director of the Courts, Justice Tzachi Uziel, to explain under what authority citizens were required to sign a commitment form and hand over personal details before entering a High Court of Justice hearing. The group said the practice raises concerns about the legal basis for conditioning entry to a public hearing on signing a document, and about the privacy of court visitors.
In its letter, the movement said the requirement points to a continuing erosion of the principle of open court proceedings. It argued that forcing people to choose between exposing personal information and signing an undertaking as a condition for attending a court session is a clear sign of that problem. The group also said it was unclear what authority the courts have to demand this and whether all steps are being taken to protect privacy as required by the Privacy Protection Law.
The request follows an exposure by Channel 7 of a new Courts Guard procedure requiring some hearing participants to sign an undertaking as a condition for future entry to hearings. According to the wording, the form applies to people whom the courts say previously disrupted order during a hearing or afterward.
The signer acknowledges being told that their earlier conduct “deviated from the accepted rules of conduct in court and constituted a disturbance of public order.” They also promise to obey the instructions of the court and the Courts Guard, avoid interruptions and disruption, and treat all participants with respect. The form says a violation can lead to immediate removal from the court building and denial of future access, at the discretion of the court or the Courts Guard, and notes that disturbing order may amount to a criminal offense or grounds for contempt proceedings.
