The Supreme Court yesterday prevented the Green Party from changing its name, despite the chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Justice Mishael Cheshin, granting permission to do so. Citing fears that voters could possibly confuse the Green Party with the pro-legalization party, Green Leaf, the Green Party sought permission to change its official name to "The Greens - For the Protection of the Environment." At first, Cheshin denied the request, and the Green Party petitioned the Supreme Court. Cheshin later changed his mind, but since the deadline for registering parties' names had passed, the matter was transferred to the Supreme Court, which ruled that even the chairman of the CEC must be bound by the legal deadline specified in the Elections Law.