From Dr M-A Farrugia

I refer to the article under the heading The appointment of judges, the Minister and the Constitution written by Dr L. Schembri Orland in last Sunday’s edition of your paper. In her arguments in connection with a specific appointment, the writer quotes from the interview given by the Chief Justice to The Times, which appeared on 14 September. A careful reading of that interview should show that the thrust of the Chief Justice’s comments and opinions was intended to promote the institutionalised independence of the judiciary (including administrative and budgetary) in line with European best practice, and had nothing to do with any specific appointment to the Bench prior to that interview, as the article seems to imply. Indeed the opening paragraph of that interview reads: “Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano was delighted by the appointment last week of two women to the bench of judges. However he still advocates the setting up of a Judicial Appointments Board.” Reference is also made to the Chief Justice’s speech on the occasion of the commencement of the Forensic Year on the 2 October: vide DOI Press Release 1327.

Dr Marse-Ann Farrugia

Judicial Assistant and Legal Secretary

Office of the Chief Justice