After the Break-In at Solberg's Home, All Judges Were Connected to a Panic Button

The disturbance at the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg continues to reverberate through the justice system. Alongside a series of condemnation statements issued by the prime minister, the justice minister, judges and the Courts Administration, it has now emerged that the incident also led to practical steps intended to strengthen judges' personal security.

According to a report on Channel 14, the Courts Guard contacted all judges across the different courts, from magistrate courts to the senior appellate courts, and conducted a refresher on procedures related to a dedicated panic-button app. Activating the app sends an alert to the police and the court system, along with the cellphone's location, in order to enable rapid arrival of assistance to the scene.

A source in the Courts Guard explained that this is "a kind of red alert for judges." According to him, the app already existed, but many judges did not know how to operate it or did not have the required login details. "The app actually already existed, but many judges did not know how to operate it, what the username or password was. After the Solberg incident, many felt pursued, so we contacted every judge, refreshed the procedures and made sure everyone knows how to use it," the source said.

The justice system notes that every courtroom has had a panic button for many years, but the app is intended to provide a response for emergencies outside the courthouse. Thus, when needed, judges can summon help even when they are at home, on the road, or anywhere else.