Daily Star - Women's Council backs Shabtini for top Higher Judicial Council post, December 16th 2011

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Women’s Council urged Friday the government to appoint Judge Alice Shabtini as the head of Higher Judicial Council, the council said in a statement.

“[The council] suggests, demands and insists on appointing Judge Alice Shabtini as the head of the Higher Judicial Council for what this woman has in terms of qualities and qualifications,” the statement said.

Shabtini, currently head of the Military Appeals Tribunal, has been in the middle of a controversy lately after she released four Lebanese convicted of collaborating with Israel, a decision strongly contested by Hezbollah officials.

Judicial sources have said that her decision is within legal terms.

Shabtini’s decision came after the four, who had been handed between seven and 15 years sentences for collaborating with Israel, appealed the first verdict and were being retried by the Military Appeals Tribunal.

She is reported to be backed for the post as head of the Higher Judicial Council by President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, while Free Patriotic Movement head MP Michel Aoun has nominated one of his supporters, Judge Tanious Mashlab, for the post.

The Lebanese Women’s Council statement added that Shabtini has shown her integrity and ability of heading the Military Tribunal.

Shabtini also presides over the case of retired Gen. Fayez Karam, a senior official in Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, who received a two-year sentence in September on charges of collaborating with Israel.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Dec-16/157069-womens-council-backs-shabtini-for-top-higher-judicial-council-post.ashx#axzz1gtLKaQwu