I would like to show my full and unreserved solidarity with Magistrate Franco Depasquale who recently was the victim of a public rant on the part of Mr Normal Lowell. Magistrate Depasquale is one of the most ethically correct magistrates we have, and to date he has delivered some of the most equitable and legally sound judgements we have had in the history of our courts. 

For anyone to make such remarks about is nothing short of disgusting and utterly shameful from whichever angle you look at it. Mr. Lowell's comments cannot be considered as anything but a vile, if veiled, attempt to somehow try to influence the judge who will eventually hear his case. 

Mr Lowell referred to a "sliver of integrity", perhaps rather than looking for a "sliver of integrity" in any judge who might eventually hear his case. Maybe it would be better for him to try and ferret out (and he has quite a deal of ferreting to do) a "sliver' of decency" in himself that would enable him to respect the country's institutions and allow those institutions, and in particular the judiciary, to perform their duties in as fair and impartial a way as possible, without having the likes of him trying to influence their decisions one way or another.

To use the words he apparently used in respect of Magistrate Depasquale, apart from being an offence against the particular magistrate (who, incidentally, happens to be one of the hardest-working and fairest magistrates in our courts), can be considered as an offence against the whole judiciary, not to mention the whole legal profession - something that democracy and the country can do very well without.

Joseph P. Bonello (LL.D., Mag. Jur. (Int. Law), M.Phil., Dip. Not. Pub., Dip. Bus. Law & Acc., Dip. Can. Jurp. (Melit).)

Balzan