Yesh Atid filed a petition today (Tuesday) for a conditional injunction and a request to hold an urgent hearing on the petition against the Minister of Justice and the Israeli government regarding the convening of the Judicial Appointments Committee.
According to the petition, the decision not to convene the committee is against the law and constitutes an attempt to paralyze the judiciary. "This is also an extremely unreasonable decision. But because at this time the fate of the reasonableness is also in the hands of the government, we saw fit to focus our argument on claims of lack of authority," the petition states.
Netanyahu: "Decision on the Judicial Appointments Committee - Soon After" / Yehuda Schlesinger
Opposition leader Yair Lapid: "It is inconceivable that the prime minister is unable to take over his justice minister and inform him to convene the committee for the appointment of judges. This is a real blow to the citizens of Israel, it is a professional blow to the judicial system and a blow to democratic values.
After all the tricks and lies, after you have eliminated reasonableness, you are still left with responsibility and authority – we demand that the committee for the selection of judges be convened. Where else will this government lead the disgrace? The day after the reasonable grounds are revoked, it is important to recall the additional grounds that, according to all administrative law experts, including all sitting Supreme Court justices, allow criticism of government decisions."
Yesh Atid is asking the High Court of Justice to discuss why the government refrains from selecting a government representative to the Judicial Selection Committee, and from convening the committee "as quickly as possible" close to the establishment of the government in order to staff the dozens of available judge positions in the various courts.
"This decision severely harms the public interest and constitutes a blatant breach of the government's duty of loyalty and fairness. The attempt to paralyze the Judicial Selection Committee until the controversial legislative process that the Minister of Justice seeks to advance is an attempt to paralyze the judiciary," the petition states.
"This is also an extremely unreasonable decision. However, since at this time the fate of the cause of reasonableness – a cornerstone of Israeli administrative law – is also in the hands of the government after it passed yesterday in a predatory and unilateral manner the cancellation of the cause of reasonableness, we saw fit to focus our argument on claims of lack of authority."
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