The Knesset plenum approved in second and third readings on
Monday a proposal by Justice Minister Daniel Friedman to
limit the term of all court presidents and vice presidents,
including the offices of the High Court president and vice
president, to a single seven-year term.
The new law also states that judges should not be appointed
to these posts if due to their age or any other reason they
would be unable to serve for at least three years. The law
will not apply to judges currently serving as court
presidents. Forty-nine MKs from both the coalition and
opposition voted in favor of the bill, while only five MKs
from Meretz and Hadash opposed it. MK Ophir Pines
abstained.
During the Constitutional Committee discussions on the bill,
High Court President Judge Dorit Beinish voiced staunch
opposition, calling it "superfluous."
Minister Friedman said it was "an important law" and he was
pleased with the broad consensus among MKs, including
opposition members. He said it would guarantee the
independence of court presidents as well as regular turnover.
"This is another building block in the steps I am taking to
improve the functioning of the courts and guarantee their
independence," he said.
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni voiced his objections to the almost
unlimited term of the High Court president, pointing out that
in a democracy other powerful figures such as the prime
minister, the president, ministers and MKs are elected for a
set period of time. He claimed Meretz is overlooking the
appropriateness of the law because the current High Court
matches its worldview completely.
According to the current law High Court presidents continue
to serve until they reach retirement at age 70.
