Supreme Court Justices Formally Charge Minister Levin With Abuse of Power Over Judicial Appointment Standoff

Israel's top justices demand Yariv Levin end his "arbitrary" veto of judicial candidates as 67 positions remain empty across the national court system.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 19, 2026, 6:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

High Court Leadership Challenges Ministerial Authority

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, joined by Deputy President Noam Sohlberg and Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, has initiated a rare public confrontation with the executive branch. In a formal letter, the three justices, who all serve on the Judicial Selection Committee, accused Justice Minister Yariv Levin of overstepping his legal mandate. They assert that Levin is abusing his administrative role as committee chairman to prevent votes on candidates he dislikes, effectively creating an unauthorized veto that bypasses the committee’s simple majority voting rules.

Critical Shortages Cripple District and Magistrate Courts

The judicial leadership highlighted a severe crisis within the national legal infrastructure, noting that 67 judicial positions remain vacant across Israel’s magistrate and district courts. The justices specifically pointed to the Beersheba and Haifa District Courts, where they claim Levin has "crassly ignored" the urgent requirement for 13 new judges. According to the letter, this ongoing delay in staffing is directly harming the service provided to citizens, as the backlogs in these regional courts continue to grow without a reasonable explanation for the Minister's inaction.

Dispute Over Court Staffing Priorities and Data

A significant point of contention has emerged regarding which courts require the most immediate attention. While Levin recently proposed convening the committee to staff traffic, family, and youth courts, the justices countered that his focus is not supported by professional data. They informed the Minister that his figures appear "totally arbitrary" and lack the backing of formal assessments from the Israel Courts Administration. The justices maintain that the staffing needs in general magistrate and district courts are far more pressing than the specific venues Levin has prioritized.