MK Rothman to submit new judicial reform bill in coming days

Knesset Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism party) intends to submit in the coming days his own version of a judicial reform bill, Channel 12 News reported.

The wording that Rothman will present will not be the same as that presented by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. It will include changes and, among other things, the composition of the committee for the appointment of judges will be slightly different from Levin’s proposal – but apparently the principle that the coalition will have a majority on the committee will be maintained.

Another issue in which Rothman’s proposal is more moderate than Levin’s is with regard to the judicial concept of reasonableness. The Override Clause will also be softened to maintain more of the Supreme Court’s power than under Levin’s proposal.

Rothman’s goal is to promote the reform quickly after the attorney general indicated that it would take weeks for her to formulate her opinion on his and Levin’s proposals.

Sources close to Rothman said that he believes that all the legislative procedures can be completed within a few weeks, during which talks will also be conducted and compromises will be reached on certain of the controversial issues.