The Maltese Judiciary Association on Thursday called for more resources to be provided to judges and magistrates, saying that unfortunately competent people are not being drawn to work in the law courts.

In a statement, the association welcomed the appointment of Madam Justice Natasha Galea Sciberras, Mr Justice Henri Mizzi and Mr Justice Mark Simiana to the bench, which appointments effectively will be increasing the complement of the Judiciary by one Judge, as two judges will be retiring this month.

The association reiterated its position, as stated also by the Chief Justice, that, unless the authorities provide the Judiciary with adequate resources and competent staff, the Judiciary will not be in a position to deliver justice within a reasonable time.

Though aware that attempts are being made to attract competent staff in Court, the Association notes, with dismay, that such attempts have failed as competent and well trained persons are not being drawn to work in Court, this being mainly due to the unattractive pay structure currently being offered by the Court Service Agency.

Furthermore, though works are being carried out to increase work spaces within the current Court building, such works are practically sub-dividing currently existing work spaces into smaller work spaces, which works, though able to reduce in the short term some of the problems relating to lack of space in Courts, will end up crowding even more the current Court buildings rendering them more inadequate to suit their purpose.

The Association lamented the persistent failure of the authorities to address, with a long term plan, the acute problems within the Courts, which problems are now well beyond an acceptable level, being on the brink of collapse, and insist that considering the ever increase in population and workload of the Courts, unless the authorities seriously invest in competent staff and adequate resources, the Judiciary will never be able to provide the service they are requested and expected to provide.

Justice must be served within a reasonable time, however to be able to do so, the Judiciary has to be given the tools and resources to work with, something which at present, the authorities are failing to provide.

The statement was signed by Mr Justice Francesco Depasquale, president, and Madam Justice Joanne Vella Cuschieri, secretary.