Lawאורי שהם

Uri Shoham

Uri Shoham is an Israeli jurist who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Israel from 2012 to 2018 and later as Ombudsman for complaints against judges.

born 1948Supreme Court justice, 2012 to 2018Chief Military ProsecutorOmbudsman for complaints against judges

Born: 3 August 1948, Iraq
Occupation: judge
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Uri Shoham was born in 1948 in Iraq

Uri Shoham was born Uri Shahrabani in Iraq on August 3, 1948, the eldest son of Yosef and Aziza-Aliza. His family was active in the Zionist underground in Iraq. The family moved to Israel in 1951 and settled in Tel Aviv, where he attended Ironi Dalet High School.

He joined the IDF in 1966 through the Atuda academic program. He earned a law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1971 and a master's degree in law there in 1977. He became a licensed lawyer in 1975.

After serving in the Combat Engineering Corps, he moved to the military legal system in 1974 and held posts as prosecutor and judge. He was Chief Military Prosecutor from 1995 to 2000 and left the army as a Brigadier General.

In 2001 he became a judge on the Tel Aviv District Court. After he gave long prison terms to crime group leaders, he received threats and was given security. He joined the Supreme Court in 2012 and retired in 2018.

In November 2018 he became Ombudsman for complaints against judges, and he left the post in May 2024 with no successor named. He is married to Ami and has two daughters. His brother Haim was killed in 1989 during reserve duty in Gaza.

Milestones in Uri Shoham's life

1948
Born in Iraq.
1951
Moved to Israel with his family.
1966
Joined the IDF through the Atuda program.
1971
Earned a law degree from the Hebrew University.
1989
Became first president of the Military Court of Appeals for Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
1995
Became Chief Military Prosecutor.
2001
Appointed judge on the Tel Aviv District Court.
2012
Sworn in as a Supreme Court justice.
2018
Retired from the Supreme Court and became Ombudsman for complaints against judges.
2024
Ended his term as Ombudsman.

Uri Shoham served in the military

He served in the Combat Engineering Corps from 1971 to 1974, then in the Military Advocate General's office, where he was Chief Military Prosecutor from 1995 to 2000. He finished his service as a Brigadier General.