Initiative would have court presidents recommended by c'tee, then okayed by both Friedmann, Beinisch.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
After several months of locking horns, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann and High Court of Justice President Dorit Beinisch have reached an agreement on the formation of a committee that would recommended judges for positions in Israel's court system, Israel Radio reported Friday.
According to the proposal, the committee would recommend nominees to serve as judges and the recommendations would then be submitted for the approval of both the justice minister and the president of the High Court of Justice.
The newly-reached agreement between Friedmann and Beinisch follows on the heels of Friedmann's 'Term Law,' which limits the number of years a judge can reside as president of a court to seven years.
According to the agreement, the committee would define the criteria for each position. After the vacancy is publicly announced and applicants submit their nominations, the committee will of its own initiative turn to other potential nominees and recommend that they submit their applications.
The committee will also be allowed to request the opinion of the Israel Bar and other parties regarding a candidate's suitability for the offered position.
After finishing its deliberations, the committee will offer its recommendations to the justice minister and the president of the High Court of Justice, and they will choose the candidate. The committee can also suggest a list of two or three candidates and rate them according to their skills.
If the new initiative is implemented, judges in Israel's court system will for the first time be chosen by a committee. According to the new initiative, a candidate will not be eligible for a position if he is expected to retire within three years of taking office.