At the top of the judicial hierarchy in Israel is the Supreme Court. There is a president or chief justice and a number (determined by the Knesset) of associate justices. The court has original and appellate jurisdiction. It hears appeals from lower courts in civil and criminal matters. It has original jurisdiction in matters seeking relief against administrative decisions that are not within the jurisdiction of any court. In this instance, it may restrain or direct government agencies or other public bodies. It also plays a role in certain instances with regard to actions of religious courts. The Supreme Court serves as a guardian of fundamental rights, protecting individuals from arbitrary actions by public officials or state bodies or agencies. While it does not formally have the power of judicial review and cannot invalidate the legislation of the Knesset, the Supreme Court has in recent years adopted a more active role in defining general social mores. This increased activism has prompted a forceful backlash by conservative elements of Israeli society, especially the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.
Former chief justices are Moshe Zmora (1948-54), Yitzhak Olshan (1954-65), Shimon Agranat (1965-76), Yoel Zussman (1976-80), Moshe Landau (1980-82), Yitzhak Kahan (1982-83), Meir Sham-gar (1983-95), and Aharon Barak (1995-2006). Dorit Beinish has been chief justice since 2006.
See also Basic Law: the
Historical Dictionary of Israel. Bernard Reich David H. Goldberg. Edited by Jon Woronoff..