In the next few weeks the Judicial Appointment Committee will convene to debate the appointment of several candidates for the Supreme Court. Among the candidates is Judge Ruth Ronen, a Judge in the Tel Aviv District Court. The Legal Forum has submitted an objection to Ronen’s nomination due to the fact that in the past her professional conduct has been questioned.
In 2011, the Legal Forum contacted the Supervisory body for Judges to request an investigation into a case involving a conflict of interest which Judge Ronen presided over. In 2009, an NGO by the name of Gisha, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents, petitioned the court requesting classified and sensitive information. Judge Ronen accepted Gisha’s motion based on the Freedom of Information Law even though it specifies that the State does not have to supply information that could “hurt the State’s security, its foreign relations and the security of the public.” Judge Ronen made this highly problematic political decision without disclosing a personal conflict of interest connected to the New Israel Fund.
Ronen should have informed the court of her connection to the case because her husband, Ze’ev Bergman, is a member of the board of the New Israel Fund, which supported Gisha directly in the past and continues to support it through Shatil, the NIF’s operative arm.
In April of 2011 , when the verdict in this case was given, the Legal Forum contacted the Supervisory body for Judges and filed a complaint against Judge Ronen, which was found to be justified in June of the same year. In the reply received, the committee stated that “the nature of the case itself was reason enough for the Judge to clarify any connection between herself and the Foundation in which her husband serves as an executive board member.
This opinion is based on the cautionary manner in which a judge is required to act. This is in order to eliminate any shred of doubt of any inappropriate connection of the individual sitting in judgment which may affect his integrity.” In light of this, and as Judge Ronen is being considered for a judicial position in the Supreme Court, attorney Hila Cohen from the Legal Forum has requested that this matter be considered within the framework of Ronen’s nomination.
It is abundantly clear that any individual who holds the responsibility of a judicial appointment, in particular in the Supreme Court must be faultless, and in this incident where a conflict of interest, whether direct or indirect was not reported according to the regulations, raises serious questions as to whether this condition has been fulfilled.
Furthermore, it is necessary that a Supreme Court Judge take a wide view of his position, and take upon himself a larger responsibility than required. He should be an exemplary model of maintaining rule of law, integrity, and appropriate judicial conduct. This case is one of the reasons why the Legal Forum is launching a website that provides public information regarding all individuals who hold a judicial position in one of the Israeli courts. This is a significant tool which allows attorneys and members of the public to access information related to Judges’ professional experience and verdicts, and provides an insight into their professional outlook.
