The judges of the High Court of Justice told Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s lawyer in court Sunday morning that “crime is rampant” and that there is “an acute lack of judges” on numerous magistrates’ and district courts, during a hearing on Levin’s refusal to fill dozens of vacancies on judicial benches around the country.

The justices responded with astonishment at the apparent apathy of a Levin’s legal representative Zion Amir to the severe shortfall in judicial manpower at a time of rising crime, but were unable to extract a commitment by Amir for a timeline for convening the Judicial Selection Committee to fill some of the vacancies.

There are 51 vacancies on the country’s various magistrates’ and district courts, a number that will rise to 67 by the end of the year.

The Judicial Selection Committee, which Levin chairs, cannot convene once the Knesset is dissolved for elections, which is slated to happen by July 27.

Additionally, the names of candidates for judicial positions must be published in the state gazette 45 days before the Judicial Selection Committee can deliberate on their nomination, meaning that the last date for publication if there is to be a vote in the committee is June 13.

According to Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar, a Judicial Selection Committee member, Levin has refused to even publish candidates’ names in the gazette until the entire nine-member committee agrees on a list of nominations, which several members, including Elharrar, are unwilling to do.

Levin lacks a majority in the committee to ensure his candidates can get elected. Elharrar accused Levin after the hearing of........

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