Judge Denies Intent to Inspire Legislative Changes in Reasonableness Bill

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg has distanced himself from a bill proposed by the coalition government in Israel that seeks to restrict the courts' use of the judicial "reasonableness" standard. Sohlberg clarified that his previous criticism of the doctrine was not meant to advocate for legislative restrictions, but rather an internal judicial process. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government ministers have cited Sohlberg's concerns to justify the legislation, but Sohlberg stated that he did not intend for his ideas to be implemented through legislation. The bill, which is currently being reviewed by the Knesset, aims to limit the courts' ability to review government and ministerial decisions based on reasonableness.