Effectively opening a new front in Libya’s deepening rift, a new, contested president of the country’s highest judicial authority was sworn in Sept. 18 before the powerful speaker of the eastern-based House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, in a move that threatens to further entrench the conflict by politicizing yet another key institution.

The ceremony came after Libya’s parliament approved a week earlier the appointment of Abdullah Burazizah to replace Mohamed al-Hafi, who has held the post until now. Yet the vote, reportedly unanimous, came during an opaque session held at the chamber’s headquarters in Tobruk that was embroiled in controversy over a likely lack of quorum.

Observers fear that the appointment could open a new divide within an institution that until now had been able to remain somewhat aloof from the rivalries plaguing Libya, especially after Hafi deemed the measures adopted by Saleh invalid. The dispute could also represent an added obstacle to the start of a new political process in the country, and threatens to further shroud political battles in legal cover.

“It’s a very important issue. What we are seeing effectively is the Supreme Court becoming completely politicized and completely becoming part of the conflict,” said Jalel Harchaoui, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and leading expert on Libya. He told Al-Monitor, “Now you have effectively a Supreme Court president recognized by Tripoli and another one who just got designated by Saleh.”