Four new magistrates have been appointed by the President of Malta to the bench after 28 expressions of interest in the posts were received. 

In a statement, the President’s office said that after a recommendation from the Judicial Appointments Committee, he was in a position to appoint Noel Bartolo, Leonard Caruana, Lara Lanfranco, and Elaine Mercieca to serve as Magistrates.

The President said that he had acted on the recommendation of the committee, who found that the four aforementioned individuals had the most merit and were the most idoneous people for the role. 

Another eight individuals were also considered as being fit for the role, but they were not selected. 

These were: Abigail Critien, Ilona Debono, Joseph Gatt, Jean Paul Grech, Maria Karlsson, Elizabeth Quintano, Nadia Helena Vella, and Claudio Zammit. 

The President congratulated the new Magistrates and thanked the Judicial Appointments Committee for its work.