Judiciary of Malta
The judiciary of Malta interprets and applies the laws of Malta, to ensure equal justice under law, and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. The legal system of Malta is based partially on English law and partly on Continental law, whilst also being subject to European Union law.
In its pre-accession evaluation reports in 2003, the European Commission suggested that there should be reform in the judicial appointment procedure, "controlled by political bodies" (i.e. the Parliament and parties therein), to improve objectivity.[1] The Commission also pointed to the need to check the procedure for challenging judges and magistrates provided for by Article 738 of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure with the principle of an impartial tribunal enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.[2]
The December 2018 Venice Commission Opinion on constitutional arrangements and separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and law enforcement in Malta has pointed the finger to several issues requiring reforms to ensure the independence of the judiciary in Malta which has led to a number of reforms on the appointments and removal of the Judiciary of Malta.
System of Courts
The judiciary is defined by the Constitution of Malta as a hierarchical system of courts,[3] with a Constitutional Court, separate Civil and Criminal Courts of original jurisdiction.[4][1] In the criminal court, typically the presiding judge sits with a jury of nine. The Court of Appeal and the Court of Criminal Appeal hear appeals from decisions of the civil and criminal cases delivered by the superior and inferior courts respectively. Inferior courts are presided over by magistrates with original jurisdiction in criminal and civil ACTIONS.
The highest court, the
The organisation of the judiciary in Malta foresees a wide range of specialised tribunals:[6]
- Police Licenses Appeals Tribunal
- Prison Appeals Tribunal
- Building and Construction Tribunal
- International Protection Appeals Tribunal
- Industrial Tribunal
- Arbiter & Patents Tribunal
- Administrative Review Tribunal
- Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal
- Partition of Inheritances Tribunal
- Small Claims Tribunal
- Environment and Planning Review Tribunal
- Commercial Sanctions Tribunal
- Financial Services Tribunal
- Consumer Claims Tribunal
These often do not enjoy the same level of judicial independence as the ordinary judiciary, which risks being undermined by their expansion, with the danger of parallel jurisdictions.[5]
Appointment
The appointment the
Judges have security of tenure until the mandatory retiring age of 65 (or 68 if they wish to extend), or until impeachment. The Constitution also foresees that the adjudicators' salaries are paid from the Consolidated Fund and thus the government may not diminish or amend them to their prejudice.[citation needed]
A Judicial Appointments Committee (a subcommittee of the Commission for the Administration of Justice) composed of 5 non-judicial members which recommend appointments of judges of the superior court and magistrates of the inferior court directly to the President of Malta.
Discipline
The Constitution of Malta provides for a Committee for Judges and Magistrates which shall consist of three members of the judiciary who are not members of the Commission for the Administration of Justice. This sub-committee shall have the power to exercise disciplinary measures on a judiciary member who breaches the code of ethics for the Members of the Judiciary.
The constitution deals with judicial discipline by establishing a Committee for Judges and Magistrates able to commence proceedings for breach of the provisions of the Code of Ethics (Art. 101B, introduced in 2016). Although only broadly defined, these norms are accompanied by more concrete guidelines. Sanctions (warning, fines, suspensions) are meted out by a 3-member Committee for Judges and Magistrates. Yet, such committee cannot dismiss a judge or magistrate; dismissal is in the hands of the Commission for the Administration of Justice. Impeachment may be based on the grounds of proved inability to perform judiciary functions in office (whether it is infirmity of body or mind or any other cause) or proved misbehavior.
Prosecution
Members of the Judiciary of Malta
In 2019 Malta had 22 magistrates and 24 judges, as well as a Chief Justice.[7][8][9] The judges are styled as "The Honourable Mister/Madam Justice".
Bench of Judges
- Mark Chetcuti (Chief Justice)
- Giannino Caruana Demajo (Senior Administrative Judge and Vice-Chairman, Judicial Studies Committee)
- Joseph R. Micallef
- Tonio Mallia
- Abigail Lofaro ** (President of the Family Section of the Civil Court)
- Anna Felice ** (President of the General Jurisdiction Section of the Civil Court)
- Joseph Zammit McKeon (President of the Commercial Section of the Civil Court)
- Silvio Meli
- Anthony Ellul
- Jacqueline Padovani Grima
- Robert Mangion
- Lorraine Schembri Orland (Judge elect in respect of Malta to the European Court of Human Rights)
- Edwina Grima
- Lawrence Mintoff
- Miriam Hayman
- Giovanni Grixti
- Toni Abela
- Consuelo Scerri Herrera
- Anthony Vella
- Grazio Mercieca
- Francesco Depasquale
- Aaron Bugeja
- Joanne Vella Cuschieri
(** on the list of ad hoc judges on the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Malta—Rule 29 of the Rules of Court of the European Court of Human Rights)
Bench of Magistrates
- Paul Coppini
- Audrey Demicoli (Senior Magistrate)
- Doreen Clarke
- Gabriella Vella
- Claire Stafrace Zammit
- Marse-Ann Farrugia
- Josette Demicoli
- Neville Camilleri
- Ian Farrugia
- Natasha Galea Sciberras
- Charmaine Galea
- Joseph Mifsud
- Monica Vella
- Donatella Frendo Dimech
- Caroline Farrugia Frendo
- Yana Micallef Stafrace
- Rachel Montebello
- Simone Grech
- Astrid May Grima
- Nadine Lia
- Victor Asciak
- Bridgitte Sultana
- Elaine Mercieca
- Lara Lanfranco
- Noel Bartolo
- Leonard Caruana
References
- ^ a b "Comprehensive monitoring report on Malta's preparations for membership" (PDF). European Commission. 2003. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ "Regular report on Malta's progress towards accession" (PDF). European Commission. 2002. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ "Chapter VIII". Constitution of Malta. Justice Services, Government of Malta. p. 54. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ "The Courts". judiciary.mt. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Opinion No. 940 / 2018 (CDL-AD(2018)028) on constitutional arrangements and separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and law enforcement in Malta". venice.coe.int. European Commission for Democracy Through Law (Venice Commission), Council of Europe. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Officially appointed bodies: Tribunals". gov.mt. Government of Malta. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "THE JUDICIARY: Judges". judiciary.mt. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "THE JUDICIARY: Magistrates". judiciary.mt. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "The Chief Justice". judiciary.mt. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
Further reading
- Victor Paul Borg, Judicial appointments: ‘Worst constitutional mess since Independence’ Times of Malta, 28 April 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
- Ivan Camilleri, Swearing-in ceremony of judiciary goes ahead in spite of court challenge Times of Malta, 25 April 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019.
- "Opinion No. 940 / 2018 (CDL-AD(2018)028) on constitutional arrangements and separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and law enforcement in Malta". venice.coe.int. European Commission for Democracy Through Law (Venice Commission), Council of Europe. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022.
- Joanna Drake, P G Xuereb and Eugene Buttigieg (1997). "18: Malta". In Winterton and Moys (ed.). Information Sources in Law (Second ed.). Bowker-Saur. pp. 307 to 319.