A woman presented a judicial protest before the First Hall of Civil Courts, stating that she was not granted a fair hearing before Madam Justice Anna Felice, as the judge was an old-time friend of the other party.

Rosalie Darmanin, 51, accused the judge of not being impartial during an ongoing case against her former partner Pio Valletta, as he was an old friend of the judge.

The two, Ms Darmanin claimed, had been friends for over 25 years, as they had followed the same law course at university.

Ms Darmanin had filed an application asking Madam Justice Felice to refrain from presiding over the case, which application was not upheld.

In the protest addressed to the Prime Minister, the Justice and Interior Minister, the Justice Parliamentary Secretary, the Attorney General, the Director of Courts and the Superior Courts Registrar, Ms Darmanin asked the court to declare that the state’s actions against her had breached her constitutional rights.

The judicial protest was signed by Dr Frank Cassar and Dr Louise Anne Pulis.