Judges. The Supreme Court typically hears cases as a panel of three judges, however, at the discretion of the President in specific cases the court may sit as a panel of a larger uneven number of Judges. The judge or judges presiding over a specific matter brought to the court are determined by the President of the Supreme Court. The President of the Supreme Court can disqualify a judge from ruling on a particular case, if he or she believes there may exist a conflict of interest. Other powers were established in the Basic Law: The Judiciary: The President of the Supreme Court serves as one of the members of Israel's Judicial Selection Committee. The President of the Supreme Court and the Chair of the Judicial Selection Committee can initiate proceedings to remove a judge from the court. The permanent transfer of a judge from one court to another requires the approval of the President of the Supreme Court or the Disciplinary Tribunal of Judges. The activities of a judge in outside employment or in a public role are permitted only by law or with the approval of the President of the Supreme Court and the Justice Minister. If a judge is the subject of a complaint before the Disciplinary Tribunal of Judges, or the under criminal investigation or a criminal charge, the President of the Supreme Court may suspend the judge for a length of time at his or her discretion. In accordance with the Commissions of Inquiry Law of 1968, after the decision is made to form a State Commission of Inquiry, the President of the Supreme Court determines its composition. List of presidents In accordance with the seniority rule, the next Supreme Court presidents are expected to be: Deputy president In 1953, President of the Supreme Court Moshe Smoira fell ill, and Justice Minister Pinchas Rosen initiated the position of a permanent Acting President of the Supreme Court who could step in should Judge Smoira's condition prevent him from discharging his duties. Indeed, in December 1953, when Smoira ceased working, Yitzhak Olshan was appointed the first Acting President by the Selection Committee. In 1984, at the initiative of Meir Shamgar, who had been appointed a judge a year earlier, the Judges Law was amended and the title "Permanent Acting President of the Supreme Court" was replaced by "Deputy President of the Supreme Court." The first person to