Last update - 00:00 05/03/2007
Friedmann bid may sap Supreme Court clout on choosing judges
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann is seeking to change the composition of the selection panel for new judges, in order to diminish the power of the Supreme Court in the selection process, Haaretz has learned.
Following on Friedmann's instructions, Justice Ministry officials in recent days have begun to formulate a government law bill seeking to narrow down the number of Supreme Court justices at the panel in selecting new judges for all courts.
The judge selection panel currently has nine members: The Justice Minister as chairman, another minister and a Knesset member representing the executive and legislative authorities, two attorneys representing the Israel Bar Association and three Supreme Court justices, including the chief justice, representing the judiciary.
The justice minister has refused to provide details about his new bid, which may stir a wide debate in the judicial and political echelons. It is known, however, that one of Friedmann's suggestions is to replace the three justices currently presiding at the panel with serving or retired district court judges.
Ahead of his ministerial appointment, Friedmann had already voiced his support of a change to the composition of the panel, and asserted that only one justice should remain while the two other representatives of the judiciary should be either serving or retired district court judges.
"This alternative allows more diversity and distribution of powers, in that district court judges might be better acquainted with candidates for the Magistrate's and District courts than Supreme Court justices," Friedmann wrote last year.
According to Friedmann, "Supreme Court justices today enjoy an almost unrestricted rule over the appointments at the Supreme Court; quality candidates are being disqualified while lesser candidates enjoy enthusiastic support and get appointed. The fear creeps in," Friedmann wrote, "that quality has become an obstacle."
In recent years, various parliamentarians, mostly from the religious and right-wing parties, have submitted bills seeking to change the composition of the judge selection panel.