Last update - 00:00 14/03/2007
Beinisch warns of campaign to erode public's faith in the courts
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch warned Wednesday of a "campaign that has been going on for years which aims to erode the public's faith in the courts, which is being conducted by all kinds of elements."
Beinisch made the comments during a conversation with legal affairs correspondents, in which she also expanded on a few key elements of her policy as Supreme Court president.
Beinisch said that the court system's deteriorating image has made it difficult to recruit new judges. "We have no time to argue, not with a minister and not with anyone," she said. "I want to get things done, to advance an agenda of efficient management of the courts."
"What is happening here is eroding the attractiveness of being a judge," she added. "It has become fashionable to examine all of the candidates, and every judge is first being viewed as a suspect."
"A judicial candidate knows he is up for a thankless job, he won't earn like he could in the private sector, he will sit in a little booth and every day will read about his mistakes in the newspapers," she continued. "The fact is private lawyers don't want to go in this direction, worthy candidates cannot be found among lawyers. Instead of this being what is most sought after, it is being eroded."
Beinisch addressed among other things Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's proposed Basic Law on Legislation, which would reduce the Supreme Court's authority to overturn laws. The Supreme Court president said that while she is not opposed to the bill, which would anchor a nine-justice panel's exclusive right to overturn laws, she does oppose the clause granting the Knesset the right to re-institute laws which the court overturned.
Beinisch said that the Canadian Model, which served as the basis for Friedmann's proposal, resulted from a political compromise in Canada and is not suitable for the Israeli reality. Beinisch also praised the decision to address the issue as part of comprehensive deliberations on a national constitution, and not as a separate bill.
Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry published a summary of the bill on Wednesday. "This is a bill of historical importance, which establishes the status of the Supreme Court, and will contribute to increasing the public's faith in the courts and the legislative process," said Friedmann.