Micha Lindenstrauss
Encyclopedia
Micha Lindenstrauss (born: 1937) is an Israel
i judge and the current State Comptroller.
Lindenstrauss was born in Nazi Germany
and immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine when he was two years old, on the eve of World War II
. He studied law
at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, and later became a military prosecutor, and later, judge in a military tribunal
.
In 1972, he became a Traffic Court
judge, and later, a Lower District Court
judge in Haifa
, where he lived ever since. In 1999, he was appointed president of the Haifa District Court. Later, he became chair of the Judges Delegation of Israel. He is married and a father to three daughters, one of whom is a judge.
Lindenstrauss' name reached headlines when he acquitted the suspects in the notorious gang rape of a fourteen year-old girl in kibbutz
Shimrat, a decision overturned by the Supreme Court
. As chair of the Judges Delegation, he became known for his stern opposition to the abolition of the Judges Feedback by the Lawyers Guild of Israel, and helped lead the judges boycott against the Guild incident.
Upon the retirement of State Comptroller, Eliezer Goldberg
, Lindenstrauss was the sole contender for the position. He was voted as State Comptroller by the Knesset
(with 59 voting for, 29 against), a position he assumed in July 2005.
On May 2006, Lindenstrauss became involved in a heated and highly-publicized dispute with Public Service Commissioner, Shmuel Hollander, who maintained Lindenstrauss' annual Comptroller report was unfairly and personally biased toward him, resulting in legal action.
In April 2011 Lindenstrauss announced an investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu's
travel at the expense of private businessmen, mainly American Jews.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i judge and the current State Comptroller.
Lindenstrauss was born in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine when he was two years old, on the eve of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, and later became a military prosecutor, and later, judge in a military tribunal
Military tribunal
A military tribunal is a kind of military court designed to try members of enemy forces during wartime, operating outside the scope of conventional criminal and civil proceedings. The judges are military officers and fulfill the role of jurors...
.
In 1972, he became a Traffic Court
Traffic court
Traffic court is a term that refers to a municipality's specialized judicial process for handling traffic ticket cases. In the United States, a person who is given a citation by a police officer can either plead guilty and pay the indicated fine directly to the court house, by mail, or in some...
judge, and later, a Lower District Court
District court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
judge in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, where he lived ever since. In 1999, he was appointed president of the Haifa District Court. Later, he became chair of the Judges Delegation of Israel. He is married and a father to three daughters, one of whom is a judge.
Lindenstrauss' name reached headlines when he acquitted the suspects in the notorious gang rape of a fourteen year-old girl in kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
Shimrat, a decision overturned by the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
. As chair of the Judges Delegation, he became known for his stern opposition to the abolition of the Judges Feedback by the Lawyers Guild of Israel, and helped lead the judges boycott against the Guild incident.
Upon the retirement of State Comptroller, Eliezer Goldberg
Eliezer Goldberg
Eliezer Goldberg is a former Israeli Supreme Court judge, and former State Comptroller of Israel.- Early life and legal career :Goldberg was born in Jerusalem. There he attended the Hebrew Gymnasium Rechavia, graduating in 1949...
, Lindenstrauss was the sole contender for the position. He was voted as State Comptroller by the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
(with 59 voting for, 29 against), a position he assumed in July 2005.
On May 2006, Lindenstrauss became involved in a heated and highly-publicized dispute with Public Service Commissioner, Shmuel Hollander, who maintained Lindenstrauss' annual Comptroller report was unfairly and personally biased toward him, resulting in legal action.
In April 2011 Lindenstrauss announced an investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu's
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
travel at the expense of private businessmen, mainly American Jews.