Levin on Supreme Court justices: "In the next term no reform needed - they will simply be wiped out"

Justice Minister Yariv Levin told Likud activists that in the next term no judicial reform will be needed, as Supreme Court justices "will be wiped out" with the appointment of ten new judges. He revealed a conversation with a Supreme Court justice who allegedly said his candidates are "not up to our standard." Levin named Dr. Aviad Bakshi and Dr. Rafi Biton as preferred candidates.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin said this week in a conversation with Likud activists that in the next term no reform of the judicial system will be needed, as Supreme Court justices "will be wiped out" with the appointment of ten new judges. He revealed a conversation he allegedly held with one of the Supreme Court justices, who told him his candidates are "not up to our standard." Levin named Dr. Aviad Bakshi, head of the legal department at the Kohelet Forum, and Dr. Rafi Biton, one of the drafters of the judicial reform, as candidates he would like to see on the court. According to him, these appointments "will change the court from its foundations." In the next term, six additional justices are expected to retire, and in addition to the four currently vacant positions, this means the next justice minister may be involved in appointing ten justices—about two-thirds of the full bench. Levin made clear that if Likud remains in power, he intends to ask to stay in the role of justice minister. Currently, only 11 justices serve on the Supreme Court, after four positions remained vacant amid the dispute in the Judicial Selection Committee.