Bonnici does not deny Chief Justice’s possible EU court move

Justice minister Owen Bonnici confirmed that there is an opening for a further judge at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and did not deny that Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri has submitted his nomination.

While saying that he will not enter into merits of “speculation,” Bonnici said government issued a competitive call for a third Judge to sit on the ECJ, which he noted was increasing the number of judges.

In comments to the Times, Bonnici explained that “the government decided to make an open call and there will be a competitive process for this person to be chosen according to the best practice ion the field.”

On Sunday, MaltaToday reported that Camilleri has submitted an application for the post. If selected, his departure will open up a crucial vacancy for Malta’s judiciary – a sensitive post which observers say will also further determine the ‘colour’ of the institution, after Labour’s first appointments to the bench.

In further comments, the justice minister also defended the current system of appointments and warned that a reform could make the system “worse.”

Reacting to the Chamber of Advocates’ criticism over how members of the judiciary are appointed, Bonnici cautioned that the current system which pre-dates WWII has given the country “good judges and good magistrates.”

Yet, while insisting that government has an “open mind" and is ready to discuss how the system can improve, the minister warned “we have to tread with caution not to make the system worse.”

In clear reference to the Commission for the Administration of Justice’s negative assessment of lawyer André Camilleri in 2002, Bonnici pointed out that the last time the Cabinet of Ministers consulted an external body on the appointment of a member of the judiciary “our country lost a very good candidate for the post of a judge.”