The High Court of Justice today (Sunday) ordered Justice Minister Yariv Levin to cooperate with the President of the Supreme Court, in favor of appointments in the judicial system.
In their ruling, the judges criticized Minister Levin: "Judge Yitzhak Amit is the President of the Supreme Court from the day he was sworn in until the end of his term. Whoever seeks to deny this seeks to deny reality. Anyone who believes that at the current time, Mr. Yitzhak Herzog is not the President of the State, MK Benjamin Netanyahu is not the Prime Minister, and MK Amir Ohana is not the Speaker of the Knesset is equally guilty.".
""Therefore, the main argument for which the Minister of Justice refuses to cooperate with President Amit is a baseless argument.".
The High Court ruled that the Minister of Justice must cooperate with the President of the Supreme Court on the issue of appointments in the judicial system and ordered action to be taken "as soon as possible.".
They also ruled that the Minister of Justice will bear the petitioner's legal expenses, in the amount of 30,000 NIS.
However, the judges did not specify how they would act against the Minister of Justice in the event that he does not implement the ruling, but they clarify: "Needless to say, if he does not do so, the door of this court will remain open to future petitions.".
Justice Minister Yariv Levin responded cynically to the ruling: "Rarely, I definitely agree with the ruling's determination that it is appropriate for the Minister of Justice to work in cooperation with the President of the Supreme Court, when there is one.".
