Ombudsman for Judges Again Criticizes Yitzhak Amit

Retired judge Asher Kola, the ombudsman for complaints against judges, has issued another criticism of Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, following the conduct of a panel of judges in a hearing on the Second Authority Council. Kola determined that Amit and judges Alex Stein and Gila Canfy-Steinitz violated the right to argument of Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and the principles of natural justice, but they were not reprimanded since the minister's position was ultimately heard. This is not the first time Kola has criticized the conduct of the Supreme Court president.

Retired judge Asher Kola, the ombudsman for complaints against judges, has issued another criticism of Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, this time following the conduct of a panel of Supreme Court judges in a hearing concerning the Second Authority Council. According to Kola, President Amit and judges Alex Stein and Gila Canfy-Steinitz violated the right to argument of Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi during the hearing, thereby harming the 'principles of natural justice.' However, the ombudsman decided not to reprimand the judges, since ultimately Karhi's position was heard before the court, so the initial violation of his right to present his arguments did not lead to a denial of the opportunity to present his position. This decision joins a series of cases in which Kola has criticized the conduct of the Supreme Court president. In the past, Kola found a complaint filed against Amit in the 'Directors' Team' affair to be justified, which concerned Amit discussing and issuing an interim order in a proceeding related to the team while his brother was a member of it. In another case, Kola sharply criticized Amit and Supreme Court judges Khaled Kabub and Yechiel Kasher following the issuance of judicial decisions during the Sabbath, determining that issuing decisions on the Sabbath was 'a complete desecration of the Sabbath.'