The government this afternoon announced that three magistrates will be promoted to judges, while three lawyers will be appointed magistrates.

The three magistrates set for promotion are Anthony J. Vella, Consuelo Scerri Herrera and Grazio Mercieca.

Vella is conducting the magisterial inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, which means that his work will have to be continued by another magistrate.

The three new magistrates will be Rachel Montebello, Simone Grech and Astrid May Grima. For the first time, there will be a majority of women in the judiciary, 23, while the number of men is 22.

Dr Anthony J. Vella

Magistrate Vella, born in 1965, graduated as a lawyer in 1991. He was appointed magistrate in January 2004. He is married with two children.

Dr Consuelo Scerri Herrera

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera was born in 1964 and graduated as a lawyer in 1988. She was appointed magistrate in May 1997. She has three children. Scerri Herrera's promotion had initially been rejected by the Commission for the Administration of Justice, but a proposal for her promotion was re-submitted after the appointment of a new Chief Justice.

Dr Grazio Mercieca

Magistrate Grazio Mercieca, born in 1957, became a lawyer in 1982. He was appointed magistrate in 2016. He is married with three children and is a grandfather of two.

Dr Rachel Montebello

Dr Rachel Montebello was born in 1975 an graduated as a lawyer in 2000. She is a mother of twins.

Dr Simone Grech

Dr Simone Grech was born in 1980 and became a lawyer in 2005. She is married and has two children.

Dr Astrid May Grima

Dr Astrid May Grima, born in 1974, became a lawyer in 2007. She has a son.