This is a brilliant book to review in ordinary times. It draws out the nuances of key legal concepts that form the complex web of principles, collectively known as the ‘rule of law’ in mature democracies. It also explores, in depth, the qualities of an ideal judge and what she/he must do to uphold these values.
However, we are not living in ordinary times. Modern democracies are increasingly coming under strain, and the notion of the rule of law, once taken for granted, is facing new challenges. What makes this book both poignant and ironic is that it is written by a former President of the Supreme Court of Israel, who led the Court for 26 years. Given the events in Gaza over the past year, this backdrop casts the book’s optimism in a very poor light.