Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco’s rights to a fair hearing had not been breached as a result of impeachment proceedings against him, the First Hall of the Civil Court ruled today.

Impeachment proceedings against Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco had originally been filed in late 2012 by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, but last January, Speaker Anglu Farrugia ruled that this motion was effectively rendered dead because Dr Gonzi was no longer a member of parliament and the motion was never discussed before the previous legislature was dissolved.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat filed a fresh motion, but last February, Parliament’s House Business Committee decided to postpone parliamentary debate and vote on the motion for the judge’s impeachment until the Constitutional case is decided.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco filed the case against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat – who moved the second impeachment motion earlier this year – the Attorney General, the Commission for the Administration of Justice and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, and insisted that the CAJ’s proceedings against him breached his right to a fair hearing.

But in a 96-page ruling issued today, his argument was rejected by Judge Lorraine Schembri Orland.

This ruling should pave the way for the impeachment motion to be debated in parliament. Whether this will be voted on before the judge retires in August, however, remains to be seen.