Beersheba District Court Chief Justice Benny Sagi died in an accident on Highway 6, the Israel Police reported Sunday.
Sagi was riding a motorcycle when he was hit by a car, the police said.
A Magen David Adom crew that arrived at the scene was unable to revive him.
“I learned with shock and great sorrow the news of the untimely death of Sagi,” Justice Minister Yariv Levin wrote, adding that he was “a brilliant jurist, an exceptional judge – beloved and respected by lawyers and litigants alike.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said, “I came to know Sagi when I interned at the Central District Attorney’s Office about 20 years ago, when he was a prosecutor. He was a straightforward and honest man, highly knowledgeable in criminal law, with a rare ability to find paths of compromise and agreement.”
“He was head and shoulders above others, but even as president of a district court, his heart did not grow haughty, and the modesty and humility so characteristic of him accompanied him even in this lofty position,” he added. “He also had a sense of humor that is quite rare in this profession.”
Herzog: 'A brilliant, sharp-minded jurist'
President Isaac Herzog said, “Sagi was a brilliant and sharp-minded jurist, a tremendous judge who combined immense professional knowledge with exceptional integrity.”
“I was constantly impressed from afar by the rare blend he embodied – a judge of stature and authority, with a moving personal story, who was known as a man of values, humble and kind-hearted, who always saw the person standing before him and strove for peace and mediation,” he added.
A Judicial Authority spokesperson said: “Sagi was a talented and promising judge – a leader, beloved and admired by all who knew him, who achieved professional accomplishments at a young age, and his death is a great loss to the judicial system in which he served.”
Israel Bar Association chairman Amit Becher wrote: “Sagi was a man who stood head and shoulders above others. Proof of the uniqueness and depth of the loss is the fact that in such a turbulent and polarized period, he was a consensus of excellence both as a judge and as a manager in the court system.”
“He was a people person, and I saw him as a role model and inspiration, and a perfect candidate to fill the most senior roles in the judicial system,” he added. “His tragic passing is a loss for the IBA and for me personally.”
The Justice Ministry said: “Sagi was a central and respected figure in the judicial system, a jurist of stature and a public servant who acted with dedication, professionalism, and deep public responsibility.”