Honourable Justice Ruth Ronnen, Supreme Court of Israel delivered the online lecture titled ” Being a Judge in Israel; Taking Judging Seriously” during the Global South Network (GSN) judges guest lecture series on Sunday 25 August 2024 at 10:00 am UK time/12:00pm Israel time.

THE SPEAKER’S INTRODUCTION

Honorable Justice Ruth Ronnen, born in Israel in 1962, served in the Israel Defense Forces from 1980 to 1982. She graduated magna cum laude from Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a law degree in 1986 and was admitted to the Israeli Bar in 1988. In 1990, she gained admission to the New York Bar and practiced as an associate attorney in New York from 1990 to 1991. Between 1988 and 1995, she worked as an associate attorney in Israel.

In June 1995, Justice Ronnen was appointed as a Judge in the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court. She also began teaching as an adjunct lecturer at Tel Aviv University in 1998. She completed her master’s degree in law at Tel Aviv University in September 2002 and, in May 2005, was appointed as a Judge in the Tel Aviv District Court. From 2010 to 2022, she served as a Judge in the Economic Department at the Tel Aviv District Court.

In 2021, Justice Ronnen earned her second master’s degree, summa cum laude, in philosophy from Tel Aviv University. She was appointed as a Supreme Court Justice in June 2022.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

THE HOST’S INTRODUCTION:

The Founder of the Global South Network (GSN) Dr Nauman Reayat introduces the session as part of the GSN’s guest lecture series, sharing the Network’s goals of empowering the Global South by highlighting significant social, political, and legal issues.

Justice Ruth Ronnen’s Perspective on Judicial Roles

THE ESSENCE OF JUDGING

Judges face daily decisions, much like other professions (e.g., doctors, engineers), yet have the unique responsibility of adhering to strict procedural rules and explaining decisions in-depth.This systematic process makes judicial decisions more accountable and transparent.

EARLY CAREER REFLECTION

Justice Ronnen shares her formative experiences working under Chief Justice Shamgar, learning the value of balanced judgment and understanding multiple perspectives.

KEY QUALITIES OF A JUDGE

Judges must balance empathy and decisiveness, a skill she emphasizes is vital for judges facing conflicting evidence and complex legal disputes.She encourages caution against over-reliance on “intuition” in truth detection, highlighting empirical studies showing limitations in lie-detection.

CASE ASSESSMENT

Justice Ronnen values analyzing cases based on factual evidence, avoiding stereotypes, and building a logical sequence in decision-making to ensure objectivity.

DECISION-MAKING METHODOLOGY AND CHALLENGES

APPROACH TO EVIDENCE AND TRUTH

Justice Ronnen elaborated on the difficulty of discerning truth based on witness demeanor alone, favoring an analytical approach based on evidence. She discussed the significance of consistency within testimonies and documentation for credibility.

SIMPLIFYING LEGAL DILEMMAS

Justice Ronnen shares a unique approach inspired by explaining legal cases to her young son, which helped clarify complex cases into simpler moral terms, highlighting the value of accessible legal reasoning.

PUBLIC OPINION AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

Justice Ronnen acknowledges the influence of public opinion but insists that judicial integrity depends on focusing on law and not succumbing to popular demands. She reflects on the balance between being aware of public voices and maintaining impartiality in legal decisions.

Q & A SESSION

In response to a question comparing the court’s present and past leadership, Justice Ronnen asserts the enduring strength of the Israeli Supreme Court as an institution committed to protecting human rights, independent of individual justices.

She encourages mutual learning between countries’ legal systems, sharing her positive experiences drawing insights from Delaware’s Corporate Court while maintaining an independent judicial identity.