The excessive delays in the hearing of cases remain the biggest problem in our country's Courts, and this is a result of the lack of investment by the Government in human resources and the necessary infrastructure, the Nationalist Party said in a statement Friday.

To date, the Government has left our Courts overwhelmed by a lack of adequate space where cases can be heard, a significant shortage of staff, and a severe lack of other resources, the statement, signed by spokesman Karol Aquilina, said.

On the occasion of the opening of the Forensic Year, the Partit Nazzjonalista reiterates its call for investment in human resources and the physical infrastructure of our country's justice system to make it efficient and effective.

It would be pointless for the Government to announce the re-establishment of the Commercial Court or to introduce changes to the Family Court if these steps are not accompanied by substantial investment in human resources and the infrastructure of our Courts.

Official statistics show that, among other things, at the end of July 2024, in the criminal sector:

• One Magistrate had 8,401 pending procedures before them, including 2,588 cases concerning traffic and 5,558 appeals from decisions of the Commissioner for Justice;
• Another Magistrate had 1,483 pending domestic violence cases before them; and
• Another Magistrate had 1,347 pending district cases before them.

In the civil sector, it was found that in August 2024:

• Five Judges each had over 500 pending cases before them;
• Six Judges each had between 400 and 500 pending cases before them;
• The Constitutional Court had 323 pending cases before it.

These statistics show that in our country, thousands of individuals and businesses are facing injustice due to the excessive delays in hearing and deciding cases in which they are involved. They also demonstrate that our Judges and Magistrates are being asked to do the impossible in fulfilling their duties, with limited resources.

It is also scandalous that, after almost a year, the Magistrates who were appointed solely to carry out magisterial inquiries were left without adequate space from which to work and without permanent staff assigned to them, the statement said.

The PN insisted that an inefficient and ineffective justice system is an unjust burden on families and businesses and weakens our country's competitiveness. If the Government continues to fail to invest in the justice system in our country, it is choosing not to respect the rule of law and is obstructing citizens in the enjoyment of their rights.

The PN reaffirmed its full confidence in all the Judges and Magistrates of our country, who possess the wisdom, knowledge, and courage necessary to carry out their duties according to the Law, without fear or favour.