Israeli Lawyer Files Complaint Against Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen Over Lawyer Recommendation

Attorney Eran Ben Ari, chairman of the opposition in the Israeli Bar Association and member of its national council, filed a formal complaint on Monday against Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen of the Tel Aviv District Court. The complaint was submitted to the Public Complaints Commissioner for Judges, retired Judge Asher Grunis, following a report by i24NEWS journalist Avishai Greenstein. The report revealed that Judge Agmon-Gonen recommended a lawyer specializing in immigration law in a WhatsApp group of approximately 516 female legal professionals, describing him as "the best." Ben Ari pointed out that this lawyer and his firm frequently appear before Judge Agmon-Gonen in immigration cases. He argued that such a public endorsement by a sitting judge of a lawyer who regularly appears before her could lead to discrimination among lawyers, undermine the principle of equality, and raise ethical concerns regarding judicial conduct. Ben Ari stated, "A recommendation in such a broad forum creates severe discrimination, harms equality among lawyers, and blatantly violates the ethical rules for judges in Israel, from the duty of objectivity to the prohibition on exploiting one's position." He added that as a national council member representing thousands of lawyers, many of whom fear speaking out for understandable reasons, this issue affects not only the lawyers but also their clients and the public at large. Consequently, he decided to file an official complaint with the Public Complaints Commissioner for Judges.