Israel's top justice to hold muted retirement event amid Yariv Levin spat
It was decided that the ceremony would be a muted affair, with no speakers from outside the judiciary - and not just Justice Minister Yariv Levin.
The retirement ceremony for Supreme Court President Esther Hayut will continue to be held contrary to some media reports, but the swearing-in ceremony for her replacement at the President’s Residence will not be held immediately after since no new president has been selected, the Supreme Court reported Monday.
Hayut is set to retire as she reaches the retirement age of 70 on October 16. It was decided that the ceremony will be a muted affair, with no speakers from outside the judiciary, and not just Justice Minister Yariv Levin, as some reports have said. There also will be no outside speakers at Justice Anat Baron’s retirement ceremony on October 12.
The retirement ceremony is set to take place at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. The ceremony at the President’s House following the retirement ceremony would be meant for swearing in a new court president.
No replacements for Hayut or Baron have been selected, as the Judicial Selection Committee has not yet been chosen. The committee has not convened since April 2022, and Levin has refused to have the panel meet until it has been reformed.
Levin’s refusal to convene the Judicial Selection Committee was met with petitions to the High Court of Justice by Yesh Atid and the Movement for Quality Government in Israel. A hearing was set for September 18, but it was postponed due to Levin’s request for legal representation separate from the Attorney-General’s Office. This was after a September 7 hearing was postponed. A new hearing date has been set for October 22, after the retirement of Hayut and Baron, who was supposed to preside over the case.
The future of Israel's Supreme Court
By tradition, Supreme Court presidents are chosen by seniority. The next most senior judge, Supreme Court Vice President Uzi Vogelman, is expected to decline the appointment since he is already near retirement age, making Justice Isaac Amit the heir apparent. Justice Yosef Elron defied tradition on August 30, however, and submitted his candidacy to be the next court president.
Elron asked to be included in the list of candidates and said his application was not dependent on the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee.
Levin said if the committee convenes to name the replacements, they would not be chosen by seniority, KAN News reported.
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