During a Jerusalem Magistrates' Court hearing Thursday, Pini Cohen admitted to throwing a pair of shoes at Dorit Beinish but claimed that he merely wanted to cause a provocation rather than actually hurt the Supreme Court president.
One of the shoes struck Beinish in the face, breaking her glasses and injuring her lightly.
Cohen, who was immediately arrested, admitted to the aggravated assault charge but denied the charges of malicious injury and disrespecting the court.
"It was an act of despair; a sort of momentary lapse of reason as a result of years of frustration towards the justice system," Defense Attorney David Ventura said.
Ventura initially sought a plea bargain for his client, but after learning that the prosecution would seek jail time he decided to proceed with the legal battle.
"The fact that the incident involving my client was the first in a wave of attacks against judges does not mean that he should be made an example of," said the attorney.
In light of the fact that Cohen has denied some of the charges, the court ruled that he will remain in police custody until a list of the prosecution's witnesses his attorney plans to cross-examine is submitted.
It remains unclear whether Beinish herself will testify.