Israeli Arab Supreme Court Judge to oversee Israeli elections

Salim Joubran, a Christian Maronite and the sole Arab Judge on the Supreme Court, is serving as the chairman of the Central Election Committee.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
Supreme Court Judge Salim Joubran (photo credit: screenshot)
Supreme Court Judge Salim Joubran
(photo credit: screenshot)
Israeli Arab Supreme Court Judge Salim Joubran is going to oversee the upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for March 17.
Joubran, a Christian Maronite and the sole Arab Judge on the Supreme Court, is serving as the chairman of the Central Election Committee.
The Committee oversees national elections for the Knesset and is formed within 60 days after a new Knesset is established. It continues to function until the next Committee is formed, as explained on the Knesset website.
The Election Committee is made up of Knesset members or delegates representing one of the parliamentary factions and is chaired by a Supreme Court Judge.
The Committee is in charge of registering lists running for the Knesset, campaign financing, election logistics, tallying results, and dealing with challenges to the results.
Joubran was born in 1947 in Haifa and graduated in 1963 from high school in Acre, going on to finish his graduate studies in law at Hebrew University in 1968.
He began practicing law in 1970 and in 1982 was appointed as a judge to the Magistrates Court in Haifa. In 1993, he was elected judge of the Haifa District Court.
Then, in 2003, Joubran was appointed to the Supreme Court for one year, and then as a full Judge in 2004.
The Haifa born Judge also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Haifa University, where he has taught and received an Honorary Doctorate degree.
Last month, Joubran said at a conference that even though the state’s declaration of Independence proclaims equality for all, “unfortunately this has not been actualized on the ground,” said.
“There are gaps in education, employment, allotment of land for building and expanding towns, gaps in industry and gaps in infrastructure,” he said.
His criticism was not reserved solely for the Jewish majority, as he said that Israeli-Arab leaders “also need to take responsibility for resolving problems” and to “meet with ministers in order to reduce the gaps.”
In 2012, he came under criticism from MKs on the right for refusing to sing the national anthem, “Hatikva,” at a ceremony with other justices. Joubran stood but did not say the words.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.