Supreme Court of Israel

Supreme Court of Israel
Hebrew: בית המשפט העליון
Arabic: المحكمة العليا
Emblem of Israel[1]
Map
31°46′51″N 35°12′13″E / 31.78083°N 35.20361°E / 31.78083; 35.20361
Established1948 (1948)
LocationGivat Ram, Jerusalem
Coordinates31°46′51″N 35°12′13″E / 31.78083°N 35.20361°E / 31.78083; 35.20361
Composition methodPresidential appointment upon nomination by the Judicial Selection Committee
Authorised byBasic Laws of Israel
Number of positions15
Websitehttps://supreme.court.gov.il
President
CurrentlyYitzhak Amit
Since13 February 2025
Deputy President
CurrentlyNoam Sohlberg
Since10 April 2025

The Supreme Court of Israel (Hebrew: בֵּית הַמִּשְׁפָּט הָעֶלְיוֹן, romanizedBet HaMishpat HaElyon, Hebrew acronym Bagatz; Arabic: المحكمة العليا, romanizedal-Maḥkama al-‘Ulyā) is the highest court in Israel. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all other courts, and in some cases original jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court consists of 15 judges appointed by the President of Israel, upon nomination by the Judicial Selection Committee. Once appointed, Judges serve until retirement at the age of 70 unless they resign or are removed from office. The Court is situated in Jerusalem's Givat Ram governmental campus, about half a kilometer from Israel's legislature, the Knesset. By the principle of binding precedent (stare decisis), Supreme Court rulings are binding upon every other court, except itself. Over the years, it has ruled on numerous sensitive issues, some of which relate to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the rights of Arab citizens, and discrimination between Jewish groups in Israel.

When ruling as the High Court of Justice (Hebrew: בֵּית מִשְׁפָּט גָּבוֹהַּ לְצֶדֶק, romanizedBeit Mishpat Gavo'ah LeTzedek, also known as its acronym Bagatz, Hebrew: בג"ץ), the court rules on the legality of decisions of State authorities: government decisions, those of local authorities and other bodies and persons performing public functions under the law, and direct challenges to the constitutionality of laws enacted by the Knesset. The court may review actions by state authorities outside of Israel.

Yitzhak Amit is the President of the Supreme Court since 13 February 2025, with Noam Sohlberg as Deputy President since 10 April 2025.[2][3] The Supreme Court has been a main focus of incumbent Justice Minister Yariv Levin, with an attempt in 2023 to limit the power of the Supreme Court failing and Levin refusing to meet Amit since 2025 in what has been branded as a constitutional crisis.[4][5]

  1. ^ Version of emblem of Israel used by the Judicial Authority. court.gov.il
  2. ^ "Isaac Amit is sworn in as Supreme Court chief; Herzog pans government for boycotting event". The Times of Israel. February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  3. ^ "Justice Noam Sohlberg sworn in as Dep. Chief Justice". Israel National News. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  4. ^ Sharon, Jeremy. "Amit sworn in as new chief justice, PM, justice minister stage unprecedented boycott". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  5. ^ "Israel's justice minister refuses to recognize new Supreme Court president, triggering constitutional crisis: Media". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved April 10, 2025.

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