Uzi Fogelman (Hebrew: עוזי פוגלמן; born 6 October 1954) is a former justice of the Supreme Court of Israel and served as the acting president of the Supreme Court of Israel from 16 October 2023[1] to 1 October 2024.[2] Vogelman had a deep impact on Israeli jurisprudence, and especially during his time on the Supreme Court as a liberal justice, issuing several rulings that advanced the rights of minority groups in Israel.[2]
Fogelman served as an attorney in the State Attorney's Office from 1982 to 1995, first in the Criminal Division and the High Court of Justice Division, then as Deputy and Senior Deputy to the State Attorney.
From 1995 to 2000, Fogelman served as Head of the High Court of Justice Division of the State Attorney's Office and Director of the Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law. In 2000, Fogelman was appointed Judge on the Tel Aviv District Court.
In 2007 he was appointed Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel, and in 2009 he was permanently appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court. He became a permanent judge on the Supreme Court in 2009. He was expected to become President of the Supreme Court in 2023 following Esther Hayut's retirement until his own retirement a year later, but due to the short term he would serve, he indicated he would decline the position.[4]
Nevertheless, since the Judicial Selection Committee did not choose a President of the Supreme Court, as Deputy President Fogelman became acting President on October 16, 2023. He retired on 1 October 2024, reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.[2]
Notable Rulings
In 2009, the court granted a petition regarding an IDF order barring Palestinians from driving on Road 443 .[5]