Professor Alex Stein Appointed to Israeli Supreme Court

02/23/2018

Professor Alex Stein has been appointed to the Israeli Supreme Court by the country’s Judicial Appointments Committee.

Stein, a foremost expert on torts, medical malpractice, evidence, and general legal theory, was appointed along with Israeli District Court Judge Ofer Grosskopf to fill two open Supreme Court positions that were vacated by retiring justices. Stein’s nomination was supported by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who chairs the Committee, and he was voted in unanimously. There are 15 justices on the Israeli Supreme Court.

“Professor Stein is one of the world’s brilliant legal minds,” said Nick Allard, President and Dean of Brooklyn Law School. “In the short time he has been with us, he has made an enormous positive impact on the Brooklyn Law School community—as a teacher, a scholar, and a wonderfully energetic and engaged colleague and friend. We could not be prouder of his well-deserved appointment to the Israeli Supreme Court, where we know he will make important and lasting contributions as a jurist—as he has as a law professor and practicing lawyer.”

“I am thrilled and humbled,” said Stein of the appointment. “Leaving legal academia—and, in particular, Brooklyn Law School, where I found a great home and intellectual powerhouse with prolific world-class faculty and highly motivated students—isn’t easy. But I very much look forward to serving the people of Israel and its legal system.”

"This is a day of celebration for the world of Israeli law,” Shaked told Israeli news site Ynetnews. “Outstanding nominees were selected, carrying unique and varied cultural background and life experiences. I have little doubt their contribution to the court will leave its mark on the annals of Israeli law."

Born and raised in the former Soviet Union, Stein immigrated with his parents to Israel, where he finished high school, served in the military, and studied law. Following his marriage, he has lived in the United States for the last 14 years and joined the Law School faculty in 2016. While in the United States, he continued his involvement in the Israeli legal academy and practice.

Stein has been recognized as one of the most highly cited scholars in the field of Evidence. His writings combine law with economic theories and philosophy. His books include Foundations of Evidence Law; Tort Liability Under Uncertainty; An Analytical Approach to Evidence: Text, Cases and Problems; and Evidence & Proof. He received his law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his Ph.D. from the University of London.

Israeli Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut praised the appointees, telling Ynetnews they would be “two excellent Supreme Court justices with top-notch and impressive reputations. I have no doubt both will make a significant contribution to the Supreme Court and enrich its rulings with their knowledge.”