Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 12, 2008 Adar2 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:23 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann (Alon Ron) Last update - 17:47 11/03/2008 Justice Min. says he'll freeze bill to restrict Supreme Court power By Tomer Zarhin, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Supreme Court, Dorit Beinisch  Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann told reporters on Tuesday that he intends to freeze a bill aimed at curtailing the power of the Supreme Court by limiting the issues on which it can rule. Friedmann said that he hopes that at this stage, after several new judges have been appointed, the Supreme Court will "take the initiative to restrict its own jurisdiction without any need of legislation." Friedmann had sought to bar the Supreme Court from ruling on defense and fiscal issues, or State Prosecution decisions made on criminal issues, plea bargains and the closing of cases. Advertisement Meanwhile, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch hinted that Friedmann's moves to restrict the court were due to personal motivations, in an interview published in the Israel Bar Association's journal. "I cannot rule out there being a personal motivation, and neither can I confirm that there is one. It doesn't appear to me as a figment of someone's imagination in the light of all the events, but I don't know... He disagreed with us in the past, but not with the current level of intensity," the chief justice said. Friedmann's planned reforms for the Supreme Court, which he declared to pursue upon his appointment the Justice Ministry in February 2007, included making requirements for petitioning the Supreme Court more stringent, in order to lessen the court's workload, in his words. "A Supreme Court judge has the power to decide whether a case should be heard at all," the justice minister said. "In the past there were issues that were beyond the Supreme Court's jurisdiction, and everybody knew it. It is not the case to today, and the result is that everyone can petition the High Court of Justice about anything," he added. Friedmann's frozen proposal is one in a series of reforms that were subject to strident criticism for allegedly delivering a blow to the Supreme Court's constitutional power. Beinisch said upon the launch of the proposal that "the fact that the government or one of its subsidiaries has taken a certain decision - whether political, diplomatic or any other - should not automatically make it immune to judicial review." Related articles: AG opposes Friedmann's plan to curtail Supreme Court's power Ex-chief justice slams Friedmann's plan to curtail court's power Ex-justices lash out at reforms proposed by Justice Minister Beinisch: Friedmann 'sowing strife' in legal system Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring down the house Knesset speaker calls for wrecking of yeshiva killer's family home. Frum and fabulous Beauty salons offer Haredi women a unique brand of modest glamour.   1.   Bill to control Supreme Court? 16:53  |  Jim 11/03/08   2.   When the courts determine defense issues thats no good 17:18  |  Dish It Out 11/03/08   3.   How About A Constitution First? 17:22  |  B`Galil 11/03/08   4.   Supreme Court should enforce the law of the State of Israel 17:36  |  Sal 11/03/08   5.   to bar the Supreme Court from ruling on defense and fiscal issues 18:03  |  Jules 11/03/08   6.   sell out 18:39  |  paul 11/03/08   7.   TO B`Galil #3 19:34  |  Steve Beikirch 11/03/08   8.   Freezing construction,freezing bill to curtail Lefties,freezing 21:15  |  Absolute Sweden 11/03/08   9.   To Steve #7 - You`re partially right 22:09  |  B`Galil 11/03/08   10.   #1 Jim ---What Israeli Constitution 22:48  |  Labhras 11/03/08   11.   What constitution? 22:53  |  ze`ev 11/03/08   12.   TO B`Galil #8 04:40  |  Steve Beikirch 12/03/08   13.   # 9 Labhras 06:24  |  Jim 12/03/08   14.   Justice Minister Friedmann- why did you back down? 19:00  |  Yehudit 12/03/08

Today Online Hamas: No truce until Israel ends Gaza siege Responses: 122 Australian parliament lauds Israel as 'custodian of freedom' Responses: 93 Qureia to Livni: PA 'shocked' at plan to expand settlement Responses: 90 Pro-Palestinian graffiti found inside El Al plane in Italy Responses: 50 Haaretz TV: Israel-born child faces expulsion Responses: 18 Rosner's Domain What General Fellon didn't get (WTR) Israeli leadership: A mixture of paranoia and luck Poll: Cease-fire with Hamas, a good idea? How Qassams changed the conflict (WTR) Study: Boston's intermarried 'as observant' as Reform Jews More Headlines 16:15 Hamas: No truce until IDF ends Gaza, W. Bank raids 17:19 Dichter to police: Demolish home of Jerusalem yeshiva terrorist 18:58 New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigns amid sex scandal 19:21 IDF kills 5 Palestinian militants in two West Bank incidents 18:57 Rightist rabbis urge 'measure for measure' revenge on foes 15:36 Lyon police disperse anti-Israel rally during Peres visit 16:59 Smuggler buried alive when tunnel collapses near Egypt-Gaza border 18:34 Brothers sentenced to life in jail for 'honor killing' of sister 18:34 Rubinstein Piano Competition / A truly impressive artist 17:09 Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror 16:30 After 30 years, musician Joe Jackson realizes dream of playing in Israel 17:32 70 years after Anschluss, Austrians urged not to bury past Previous Editions Select Day 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer READY FOR PURIM? BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch? Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3 Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved