"Deviation from expected restraint": Ombudsman rules complaints against District Court judge justified
Complaints were filed against Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen for active membership in a WhatsApp group of the Israel Women's Network, including posting an advertisement on her behalf and recommending a lawyer who appears before her. Although the complaints were found to be justified, the Ombudsman emphasized that the flaws found do not justify taking disciplinary action.
The Ombudsman for Complaints against Judges, retired judge Asher Kola, ruled today (Thursday) that complaints filed against Central District Court Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen were found to be justified.
The complaints were filed against the judge for active membership in a WhatsApp group of the Israel Women's Network, which has over 500 participants. The grievances referred to the judge's membership in the forum, the publication of an advertisement on her behalf presenting different messages for men and women, and an incident in which the judge recommended a lawyer who appears before her in the forum. As part of the investigation, another message posted in the forum was examined, in which the judge, through her daughter, assisted with a referral for a legal position.
Alongside this, the Ombudsman determined that the flaws found do not justify taking disciplinary action. He recommended formulating clear rules regarding the participation of judges in social networks and online forums, as well as regarding the provision of recommendations for lawyers.
The Ombudsman emphasized that his decision does not constitute criticism of the Israel Women's Network, its goals, or its activities. He noted that the difficulty lies in the membership of a sitting judge in a forum identified with a body that deals, among other things, with initiating legal proceedings and activities on issues that are subject to public controversy.
