Mr Justice Giovanni Grixti had filed a criminal complaint against lawyer and PN MP Jason Azzopardi over social media comments posted by the latter, MaltaToday reports.

The complaint, however, was dismissed by the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner.

Azzopardi, who represents the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia, had posted on Facebook about how the judge had previously purchased a boat from the late father of Yorgen Fenech, George Fenech. The post, which raised doubts on the judge’s impartiality, was uploaded on the same day that the judge was to decide on a bail request by Fenech, who stands charged with masterminding the journalist’s murder.

Grixti eventually refused bail.

MaltaToday said the judge filed a police report which was, however, turned down on the basis that no criminal element subsisted.

The judge’s police report was not the only action taken against Azzopardi. Fenech’s lawyers had also written to the Chief Justice, arguing that Azzopardi’s comments were an attempt to intimidate the judge.

And the Chamber of Advocates has also reported Azzopardi to the Commission for the Administration of Justice. The CAJ is tasked with disciplining members of the judiciary and lawyers, and has the power to disbar advocates.

Azzopardi has denounced the move as an attempt to silence him. In a Facebook post, he also claimed that the “instigators” behind it had also tried to have him criminally prosecuted but had failed. It is unclear whether Azzopardi was referring to Judge Grixti’s criminal complaint.