The Supreme Court justices of Israel, with the prime minister and president, in January 2015. Photo: President of Israel’s office.

JNS.org – Four new conservative-leaning justices were named Wednesday to Israel’s Supreme Court.

The new members of the 15-seat bench, selected from a short-list of 27 candidates, include: Jerusalem District Court Judge David Mintz, Haifa District Court President Yosef Elron, Haifa District Court Judge Yael Willner and Tel Aviv District Court Deputy President George Karra.

They will assume office over the next six months, replacing retiring Chief Justice Miriam Naor and Justices Elyakim Rubinstein, Salim Joubran and Zvi Zylbertal.

The Judicial Nomination Committee’s selections are in line with the more right-wing tone Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked had hoped to introduce to the country’s judiciary.

“This is a historic day. These judicial nominations reflect the human and legal diversity that is vital to us as a society, and which was sorely lacking at this level of the judiciary,” Shaked said in a statement.

“Our judicial flagship has now changed its course,” she said. “The legal system’s strength lies in its diversity. The new appointments reflect this concept, and will it will introduce new voices to the Supreme Court.”