Three new magistrates, two women and a man, were sworn in yesterday in a ceremony presided over by President Edward Fenech Adami.

Doreen Clarke, Edwina Grima and Anthony Ellul, all of whom were previously at the Small Claims Tribunal, said they will do their utmost to fulfil their role as magistrates and remain loyal to the oath they swore.

President Fenech Adami congratulated all three magistrates on their appointment and said they form part of a new generation of people who have the wisdom and credibility to hold their new posts.

All three magistrates held the post of chairperson of the Small Claims Tribunal.

The appointment of the three new magistrates means that there will be one extra magistrate to cope with the workload, following the recent retirement of magistrates Denis Montebello and Joe Cassar.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, Parliamentary Secretary in the Justice Ministry Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano were also present at the ceremony.

Six of the 14 magistrates are now women. Apart from Magistrates Clarke and Grima, the other four are Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Magistrate Miriam Hayman and Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

Late last year, the government appointed the first two female judges: Judge Abigail Lofaro and Judge Anna Felice.

No CVs of the magistrates sworn in were provided to the press yesterday