Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T15:58:19.178Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“Landmark Cases” and the Reproduction of Legitimacy: The Case of Israel's High Court of Justice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

Ronen Shamir
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The image of courts as impartial and independent sources of authority is considered a prerequisite if they are to play a legitimizing role. Yet many studies suggest that courts systematically support and uphold state-sponsored policies. I ask how courts can support dominant political interests and at the same time appear impartial. A solution is suggested by looking at highly publicized judicial decisions by Israel's High Court of Justice in which state policies concerning the Israeli occupied territories were overruled. Such cases, while rare, nevertheless reinforce the legitimacy of courts. Consequently, decisions that counter some governmental practices allow courts to confer legitimacy on other and sometimes similar governmental policies. Finally, I place the findings in a comparative context and outline a possible explanation for the circumstances under which landmark decisions are reached.

Type
Research Article
Information
Law & Society Review , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , 1990 , pp. 781 - 805
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 The Law and Society Association.

Footnotes

I am grateful for comments on earlier drafts by Jonathan Casper, Jack Goldstone, Robert Nelson, Alan Schnaiberg, Arthur Stinchcombe, and Yuvai Yonai. I am deeply indebted to Shari Seidman Diamond for her extremely thoughtful comments and suggestions. I also thank my anonymous referees who provided insightful reviews.

References

References

ABEL, Richard L. (1980) “Redirecting Social Studies of Law,” 14 Law & Society Review 805.Google Scholar
ABERCROMBIE, Nicholas, Stephen, HILL, and Bryan S., TURNER (1980) The Dominant Ideology Thesis. London: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
ADAMANY, David (1973) “Legitimacy, Realigning Elections, and the Supreme Court,” 1973 Wisconsin Law Review 790.Google Scholar
ALON, Gideon (1989) “Deportation Under the Supervision of the HCJ,” Ha-Aretz, 4 July, p. 0 (Heb.).Google Scholar
BARAK, Aharon (1989) Judicial Discretion. New Haver CT: Yale University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BARTOV, Hanoch (1979) “HCJ and Elon Moreh,” Ma'ariv, 26 October, p. 5 (Heb.).Google Scholar
BEN-AMI, Ilan (1988) “Who Reads What? Culture Consumption in Israel: The Case of Newspapers Readership.” Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
BICKEL, Alexander M. (1962) The Least Dangerous Branch: The Supreme Court at the Bar of Politics. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill.Google Scholar
BLACK, Charles (1960) The People and the Court. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
BRACHA, Baruch (1982) “The Protection of Human Rights in Israel,” 12 Israel Yearbook of Human Rights 110.Google Scholar
CASPER, Jonathan D. (1976) “The Supreme Court and National Policy Making,” 70 American Political Science Review 50.Google Scholar
COHEN, Esther R. (1985) Human Rights in the Israeli Occupied Territories 1967–1982. Manchester: Manchester University Press.Google Scholar
COHEN, Esther R. (1984) International Criticism of Israeli Security Measures in the Occupied Territories. Jerusalem: Magnes Press.Google Scholar
COLLINS, Hugh (1982) Marxism and Law. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
DAHL, Robert A. (1957) “Decision-making in a Democracy: The Supreme Court as a National Policy-Maker,” 6 Journal of Public Law 279.Google Scholar
DINSTEIN, Yoram (1983) Laws of War. Tel Aviv: Shoken and Tel Aviv University Press (Heb.).Google Scholar
DINSTEIN, Yoram (1979) “Settlements and Deportations in the Administered Territories,” 7 Iuney Mishpat 188 (Heb.).Google Scholar
EASTON, David (1965) A Systems Analysis of Political Life. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
ECKSTEIN, Harry (1979) Support for Regimes: Theories and Tests. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
EDELMAN, Murray (1967) The Symbolic Uses of Politics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
EVRON, Boaz (1979) “On Law and the Legitimate State,” Yediot Achronot, 2 November, p. 17 (Heb.).Google Scholar
FELDMAN, Avigdor (1987) “Building a House, Planting a Tree, Marrying a Woman, Bearing a Child,” 14–15 Politics 17 (Heb.).Google Scholar
FRIEDMAN, Thomas L. (1989) From Beirut to Jerusalem. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.Google Scholar
FUNSTON, Richard (1977) Constitutional Counter-Revolution? New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
FUNSTON, Richard (1975) “The Supreme Court and Critical Elections,” 69 American Political Science Review 795.Google Scholar
GORDON, Robert W. (1982) “New Developments in Legal Theory,” in Kairys, David (ed.), The Politics of Law. New York: Pantheon.Google Scholar
GRIFFITH, John (1985) The Politics of the Judiciary. Glasgow: Fontana Press.Google Scholar
HANDBERG, Roger, and Harold F., HILL Jr. (1980) “Court Curbing, Court Reversals, and Judicial Review: The Supreme Court Versus Congress,” 14 Law & Society Review 309.Google Scholar
HASE, Friedhelm, and Matthias, RUETE (1982) “Constitutional Court and Constitutional Ideology in West Germany,” 10 International Journal of the Sociology of Law 267.Google Scholar
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST (1985) Research on Human Rights in the Occupied Territories 1979–1983. Tel Aviv: International Center.Google Scholar
ISRAEL NATIONAL SECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS (1981) The Rule of Law in the Areas Administered by Israel. Tel Aviv: Israel National Section.Google Scholar
KAIRYS, David (1982) “Legal Reasoning,” in D. Kairys (ed), The Politics of Law. New York: Pantheon Books.Google Scholar
KOL, Moshe (1979) “HCJ and Its Lessons,” Yediot Achronot, 25 October, p. 11 (Heb.).Google Scholar
LAHAV, Pnina (1977) “About Freedom of Expression in Supreme Court Rulings,” 7 Mishpatim 375 (Heb.).Google Scholar
MANDEL, Michael (1985) “The Rule of Law and the Legalization of Politics in Canada,” 13 International Journal of the Sociology of Law 273.Google Scholar
MATHIESEN, Thomas (1980) Law, Society and Political Action. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
McEWEN, Craig A., and Richard J., MAIMAN (1986) “In Search of Legitimacy: Toward an Empirical Analysis,” 8 Law & Policy 257.Google Scholar
MILIBAND, Ralph (1969) The State in Capitalist Society. London: Weidenfeld & Nicholson.Google Scholar
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD-MIDDLE EAST DELEGATION (1978) Treatment of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. New York: National Lawyers Guild.Google Scholar
NEGBI, Moshe (1981) Justice Under Occupation. Jerusalem: Kana (Heb.).Google Scholar
NONET, Philippe, and Philip, SELZNICK (1978) Law and Society in Transition. New York: Octagon Books.Google Scholar
PERES, Shimon (1979) “A Policy Is Urgently Needed,” Yediot Achronot, 26 October, p. 2 (Heb.).Google Scholar
PERES, Yochanan (1987) “Most Israelis Are Committed to Democracy,” 1 Israeli Democracy 16.Google Scholar
RUBINSTEIN, Amnon (1987) “The Jurisdification of Israel,” Ha-Aretz, 9 June, p. 13 (Heb.).Google Scholar
RUBINSTEIN, Amnon (1973a) “On Four Adjudications,” Ha-Aretz, 21 September, p. 11 (Heb.).Google Scholar
RUBINSTEIN, Amnon (1973b) “The Mandatory Emergency Regulations: The Law and the Need for Reform,” 28 Hapraklit 486 (Heb.).Google Scholar
SACHS, Albie (1976) “The Myth of Judicial Neutrality: The Male Monopoly Cases,” in Carlen, Pat (ed.), The Sociology of Law. 23 Sociological Review Monograph 104, University of Keele.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SCHEINGOLD, Stuart A. (1974) The Politics of Rights. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
SCOTT, James B. (1915) The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 & 1907. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
SEGAL, Ze'ev (1989) “An Army in the Tongs of the HCJ,” Ha-Aretz, 3 August, p. 9 (Heb.).Google Scholar
SHAMGAR, Meir (1982) Military Government in the Territories Administered by Israel 1967–1980. Jerusalem: Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Google Scholar
SHAMGAR, Meir (1971) “The Observance of International Law in the Administered Territories,” 1 Israeli Yearbook of Human Rights 262.Google Scholar
SHAMIR, Ronen (1990) “Litigation as a Consummatory Action: The Instrumental Paradigm Reconsidered,” 11 Studies in Law, Politics, and Society (forthcoming).Google Scholar
SHAPIRO, Martin (1981) Courts: A Comparative and Political Analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SHEHADEH, Raja (1985) Occupier's Law. Washington, DC: Institute for Palestinian Studies.Google Scholar
SHKLAR, Judith (1964) Legalism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
SUTTNER, Raymond (1986) “The Judiciary: Its Ideological Role in South Africa,” 14(1) International Journal of the Sociology of Law 47.Google Scholar
TRUBEK, David M. (1972) “Max Weber on Law and the Rise of Capitalism,” 1972 Wisconsin Law Review 720.Google Scholar
UNGER, Roberto (1986) The Critical Legal Studies Movement Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
USEEM, Elizabeth, and Michael, USEEM (1979) “Government Legitimacy and Political Stability,” 57 Social Forces 840.Google Scholar
WEBER, Max (1978) Economy and Society. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
ZADOK, Haim (1979) “There Are Justices in Jerusalem,” Ma'ariv, 26 October, p. 13.Google Scholar
ZAMIR, Itzhak (1987) “What Is the Limit of Freedom of Speech?” Ma'ariv, 7 August, p. 2.Google Scholar
ZICHRONI, Amnon (1987) “Politics and Human Rights,” 137 Israel and Palestine 23.Google Scholar

Cases Cited

Abu Awad v. Regional Commander of Judea and Samaria, 33:3 P.D. 309 (HCJ 97/79).Google Scholar
Aioub v. Minister of Interior, 38:1 P.D. 750 (HCJ 415/81).Google Scholar
Aioub et al. v. Minister of Defense, 33:2 P.D. 113 (HCJ 606,610/78).Google Scholar
Amira et al. v. Minister of Defense, 34:1 P.D. 90 (HCJ 258/79).Google Scholar
Asli v. Minister of Interior, 37:4 P.D. 837 (HCJ 541/83).Google Scholar
A Tali'a et al. v. Minister of Defense et al., 33:3 P.D. 505 (HCJ 619/78).Google Scholar
Awad & Tamimi v. Commander of Civil Administration, 40:2 P.D. 281 (HCJ 263,397/85).Google Scholar
Dawikat v. Government of Israel (“Elon Moreh”), 34:1 P.D. 1 (HCJ 390/79).Google Scholar
El Ard Ltd. v., District Commissioner of the Northern District, 18:2 P.D. 340 (HCJ 39/64).Google Scholar
El Asad v. Minister of Interior, 34:1 P.D. 505 (HCJ 2/79).Google Scholar
El Hatib v. Commissioner of the District of Jerusalem, 40:3 P.D. 657 (HCJ 562/86).Google Scholar
El Masulia v. Army Commander, 37:4 P.D. 785 (HCJ 393/82).Google Scholar
El Natashe v. Minister of Defense et al., unpublished (HCJ 159/76).Google Scholar
Elon Moreh: See Dawikat v. Government of Israel..Google Scholar
El Saudi et al. v. Civil Administration, Gaza, 41:3 P.D. 138 (HCJ 673/86).Google Scholar
El Nazar et al. v. Regional Commander of Judea and Samaria, 36:1 P.D. 701 (HCJ 285/81).Google Scholar
Hilu et al. v. Government of Israel, 27:2 P.D. 169 (HCJ 302,306/72).Google Scholar
M'rar v. Minister of Defense, 25:1 P.D. 141 (HCJ 5,17/71).Google Scholar
Jerusalem District Electricity Co. Ltd. v. Minister of Energy et al. 35:2 P.D. 687 (HCJ 351/80).Google Scholar
Kawasme et al. v. Minister of Defense (“Mt. Hebron Deportees”), 35:3 P.D. 113 (First Case) (HCJ 320/80).Google Scholar
Kawasme et al. v. Minister of Defense, 35:1 P.D. 617 (Second Case) (HCJ 698/80).Google Scholar
Kol Ha Am Ltd. v. Minister of Interior, 7:2 P.D. 871 (HCJ 73,87/53).Google Scholar
Mahul v. Minister of Interior, 37:1 P.D. 789 (HCJ 322/81).Google Scholar
Mt. Hebron Deportees: See Kawasme et al. v. Minister of Defense..Google Scholar
Nazal et al. v. Regional Commander of Judea and Samaria, 39:3 P.D. 645 (HCJ 513,514/85).Google Scholar
Mashtaha v. Military Commander of Gaza, 40:1 P.D. 309 (HCJ 683/85).Google Scholar
Salame et al. v. Minister of Defense, 33:1 P.D. 471 (HCJ 834/78).Google Scholar
Samara v. Regional Commander of Judea and Samaria, 34:4 P.D. 1 (HCJ 802/79).Google Scholar
Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919).Google Scholar
Tabib et al. v. Minister of Interior, 36:2 P.D. 622 (HCJ 202/81).Google Scholar

Statutes, Regulations, International Conventions Cited

Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (No. IV), 1949, 75 United Nations Treaty Series, No. 973 (1950).Google Scholar
The Hague Convention (and Regulation) Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land (No. IV), 1907, in Scott (1915).Google Scholar
Israeli Statutes:.Google Scholar
Defense (Emergency) Regulations, 1945, 28 Statutes of Israel (Gideon), 15588.Google Scholar
Press Ordinance, 1933, 8 Statutes of Israel (Gideon), 3302.Google Scholar