Two of the most prominent figures in the public fight for the continuity of an independent judiciary and the protection of the rule of law as it exists are Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and Deputy Supreme Court Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg.
Since the legislative push for judicial reform began in 2022, the judiciary as a whole, and Baharav-Miara in particular, have become targets. The A-G is seen either as a protector of professionalism and statesmanship, or as a barrier to the manifestation of the vision proposed by the publicly elected figures that make up the government.
Earlier this year, in efforts led by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the government fired Baharav-Miara via a ministerial committee, claiming a lack of ability to conduct a proper working relationship with her. True to her position, she has continued to dish out advisory opinions, as her staff continues to advise in the ministries. Part of the drive for the legislation was the view that the Supreme Court doesn’t fully keep to its stated mandate, that it too is politicized, and protects the rights of some while neglecting others.
Noam Sohlberg
Sohlberg is a fascinating player in this because of his conservative approach as a jurist and his religious background. Throughout the past year, he has proven himself to be an honest and impartial jurist, first, before any concerns for a sectoral group. As the legislative push continues and major issues surface before the courts – like the “Qatargate” investigations, the firing of the attorney-general, the appointment of the next Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head, and the criminal trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – Sohlberg is likely to continue to be at the forefront of that fight, as the question of how much politics weigh into the court’s decisions will continue to be debated in the public sphere.