[WATCH] Judicial reform bill ‘no reaction’ to criticism on controversial appointments

Judicial appointments commission are part of long reform effecting Bonello commission proposals - Justice Minister

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has lauded a forthcoming judicial appointments reform he will pass, after having been the butt of strong criticism over the appointment of the daughter of the Speaker of the House as magistrate.

A new bill will create a judicial appointments commission that will evaluate expressions of interest for advocates seeking a magisterial position, in a bid to take on board recommendations from judge emeritus Giovanni Bonello’s justice reform commission.

In a press conference, Bonnici today hit out at a private member’s bill moved by the Opposition, which the Attorney General had advised was a money bill that could not be discussed in the House but fist approved by the Cabinet.

“Not only were important reforms not enacted in 25 years of Nationalist administration, but this one proposal could not even qualify for discussion in the House,” Bonnici quipped.

“We may be criticised but things have to be carried out in a serious manner. My appeal to the Opposition is to stop being negative if it believes in justice reform, and to pull the same rope for another important step in this reform,” he said.

Bonnici denied presenting the judicial reform bill as a reaction to his controversial choice for magistrates, among them the chairman of the Employment Tribunal, Ingrid Zammit Young, who was constitutionally ineligible. “It is part of a long-term plan to implement the Bonello Commission recommendations.”