Judicial Selection Committee picks 26 more judges, registrars after extended freeze

Israel's Judicial Selection Committee has appointed 26 additional judges and senior registrars, bringing the total number of judicial officials selected this week to 94. This round of appointments is the first significant one after a freeze lasting approximately 18 months, addressing a critical shortage in the judiciary.

The newly appointed officials include one judge for the Haifa Family Court, eight Magistrate's Court judges for the Southern District, and 17 senior registrars across various courts nationwide. Supreme Court President Isaac Amit described the appointments as "significant news for the court system and the public as a whole," emphasizing the necessity of strengthening judicial personnel to manage the system's workload and operational challenges.

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significant news for the court system and the public as a whole.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who chairs the committee, hailed the process as "a real revolution in judicial appointments." His office stated that 290 judges and senior registrars have been selected during the current term, representing over 30% of Israel's judiciary. Levin asserted that the process has allowed for the promotion of candidates previously overlooked for nonprofessional reasons, leading to greater diversity on the bench.

The committee's recent meetings ended a lengthy freeze, during which Levin had delayed convening it due to disputes over judicial appointments and the committee's composition. The earlier appointments on Sunday included 53 candidates for permanent judicial positions and 15 registrars and acting District Court judges. The High Court of Justice had previously ordered Levin to convene the committee and advance appointments to vacant District Court positions, citing the negative impact of judicial vacancies on the courts' ability to provide efficient public service.

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a real revolution in judicial appointments.