Last update - 00:00 02/01/2008
Beinisch: Friedmann's bill will politicize judicial appointments
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch said Wednesday that Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's proposals to change the makeup of the selection committee for Supreme Court justices will weaken the Supreme Court's status, reduce the Supreme Court president's authorities, politicize the appointment of justices, and harm judicial freedom.
Friedmann proposed on Wednesday changing the makeup of the selection committee for Supreme Court justices to give the government more say over the process.
According to the minister's initiative, an academic and a retired judge chosen by the government would be added to the panel, as would an academic chosen by the Council of University Presidents.
These changes would be effected by increasing the committee in size from nine to eleven members, and by reducing the number of Supreme Court justices presiding on it from three to two.
Beinisch also said in the letter she wrote in response to the minister's bill that she was informed of the initiatives only through the media, and were not relayed to her or with her consulting. She noted that the consequence of Friedmann's proposal would lead to a double dilution of Supreme Court justices- increasing the committee in size from nine to eleven members, and by reducing the number of Supreme Court justices presiding on it from three to two.
Later Wednesday, MK Ophir Pines-Paz called on the justice minister to resign over the initiative, charging that Friedmann is endangering Israeli the judicial system and that he cannot continue in his position.
The MK, who heads the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee, added that changing the selection committee will cause a coalition crisis.
Key judicial figures have criticized Friedmann for attempting to weaken the judiciary with his reforms, of which the selection of Supreme Court justices is a significant point of contention between Freidmann and Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch.
The justice minister is also attempting to reduce the Supreme Court bench by one justice.
Friedmann has said of his plans for the panel that he is adamant about "stopping the Supreme Court from duplicating itself."
The justice minister heads the selection committee, which also includes another government minister, while Beinisch and two other Supreme Court justices represent the judiciary on it.
Two MKs also sit on the selection committee. One traditionally comes from the government, and the other from the opposition. The panel's other two members are lawyers representing the Israel Bar Association.
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