Justice Minister Yariv Levin on Wednesday demanded the immediate cancellation of a conference scheduled to take place at the Supreme Court, accusing the judiciary of promoting a one-sided political agenda and warning that the matter “will not end here.”
In a sharply worded letter sent to Courts Administration Director Judge Tzachi Uziel, Levin called for the cancellation of a study day titled “Education for Democracy,” scheduled for January 25.
The event was set to feature Supreme Court Chief Justice Isaac Amit, retired Supreme Court chief justice Esther Hayut, and two external speakers, Dr. Uki Maroshek, director-general of the Adam Institute, and Prof. Asa Kasher.
Levin argued that Supreme Court justices are not permitted to advance personal political agendas while using the resources, symbols, and institutional standing of the judiciary.
Holding an event of what he described as a politically unbalanced nature within the Supreme Court, he wrote, risks undermining public trust in the judicial system and violates the judiciary’s obligation to maintain not only neutrality but also the appearance of neutrality.
Levin's ongoing judicial confrontation
According to Levin, the composition of the speakers reflected representation from “one political camp only,” while excluding broad segments of the public. When such an event takes place under the auspices of the court system, he wrote, it carries an official state endorsement in the eyes of the public.
In his letter, Levin also addressed the two external speakers individually.
He cited past public activity attributed to Maroshek, including her involvement with the organization Women Wage Peace, and referred to a 2023 article and public statements by Kasher that he said reflect a sharply political position.
Levin stressed that he was not disputing the speakers’ right to express opinions but rather objecting to what he described as a one-sided political event being held within a state judicial institution.
The justice minister demanded that the Courts Administration act “immediately” to cancel the conference and requested clarification as to the cost of the event and whether it was funded with public money.
He also called for clear instructions to ensure that similar events are not held at the Supreme Court in the future unless strict neutrality and balance are maintained.
The letter forms part of Levin’s broader and ongoing confrontation with the leadership of the judicial system, and in particular with Amit, over the boundaries of judicial authority, the role of the judiciary in the public sphere, and relations between the branches of government.
Levin framed the conference as crossing a “redline” between legal adjudication and public activity that he views as political in nature.
As of Wednesday morning, the Courts Administration had not issued an official response, and it was unclear whether the event would be canceled in accordance with the justice minister’s demand.