Judicial Complaints Commissioner Closes Inquiry Into Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit

The Complaints Commissioner for Judges, retired Judge Asher Grunis, decided on Thursday to conclude the inquiry into complaints against Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit regarding his remarks on the use of kosher phones in the Haredi community. Amit clarified that he did not intend to offend the Haredi community, expressed regret over his words, and admitted that it would have been better to phrase them differently.

The complaints against Amit were filed following remarks he made during a hearing on a petition concerning the expansion of broadcast areas for regional radio stations, including those catering to the Haredi public. During the session, Amit addressed the phenomenon of concurrently holding a kosher phone and a smartphone, a statement that complainants argued hurt the feelings of many Haredim.

In his response to the commissioner's office, Amit clarified that his intention was not to cause offense, but rather to address a factual issue raised during the proceedings that could impact the court's ruling. He noted that the dual use of kosher and non-kosher devices has previously surfaced in legal and public discourse.

Nevertheless, Amit acknowledged that his phrasing was unfortunate and expressed sorrow for any distress caused. Consequently, Commissioner Grunis ruled that the clarification and apology were sufficient, bringing the complaint review to a close.