Dr. Tanya Sammut and Dr. Monica Borg Galea took the oath of office as magistrates in the Inferior Courts of Malta during a ceremony led by Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta, at the Presidential Palace in Valletta.

At the end of the appointment ceremony, President Spiteri Debono congratulated the two new magistrates who today joined the Judiciary and thus became part of the Judicial Branch, one of the three organs of the State.

In her brief speech, the President said that they would have an important role in upholding the rule of law in our country and therefore urged them to take seriously the two oaths they took, particularly to reflect on the oath tied to their position, as it outlines the qualities that should govern their conduct and behaviour.

She emphasized impartiality, which keeps them objective, above the parties involved, and also above other influences, and that they must act responsibly.

Above all, she stressed that honesty is always an essential element because we, as human beings, are not perfect, and each of us is subject to error. However, she noted that there is a difference between a genuine mistake and one made with malice.

She concluded by speaking about the importance of academic preparation, study, familiarity with previous court decisions and the opinions of legal scholars, as well as the discernment that leads to your judgments, emphasizing that our legal system, ultimately, is based on the word of the law — what the law states and its application.

Also present at the swearing-in ceremony were Prime Minister Robert Abela, Minister for Justice and Construction Sector Reform Jonathan Attard, Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, and Acting State Advocate Dr. Maurizio Cordina.