Q&A: Committee for Appointing Judges
Committee for Appointing Judges
Question
Hello Rabbi,
What do you think about the changes they want to make to the committee for selecting judges? There’s a rumor that this is Bibi and his gang’s main objective (and that Bibi doesn’t really care about override clauses and the like, according to commentators I’ve read).
A. Do you think it makes sense to give such an overwhelming majority specifically to the coalition, without any reasonable representation for the opposition? (As Levin’s proposal is currently formulated.)
B. Let’s say the committee is the only change (and there won’t be any extreme changes in the other areas, the way the reform is currently being presented), and there is definitely room to give representation to the public, etc. Aren’t you worried about our Israeli situation? In other words, about a situation where the gang in power appoints judges, including the President of the Supreme Court, and we end up in a situation where the identity of the judges on the Supreme Court is decided by Sara, Yair, and Yaffa Deri?
Thank you,
Answer
A. It definitely does not make sense. I also don’t think that is necessarily balanced by the opposition. There could be some kind of public representatives.
B. It’s a remote concern, but it exists. Remote concerns exist in every structure. The very fact that people are now thinking of changing everything shows you that nothing is guaranteed.