Quality Service Charter launched to illustrate citizens’ rights in Court

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has launched a Quality Service Charter to illustrate the rights and obligations of those making use of court services.

Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Bonnici said that the Charter is a first step to increase levels of trust in the local judiciary system, and that it goes hand in hand with efforts to improve the efficiency of court hearings and case resolution.

“The Charter also includes a list of rights for those who are under arrest and being accused of some crime or other,” he said, adding that the government had been working on further rights for the accused since 2014, with the aim of instilling more transparency and accountability amongst authorities.

The Charter is available online on www.justiceservices.gov.mt with copies also available at the Valletta Law Courts.

Discussing the law court performance throughout the first six months of 2016, Bonnici also explained that the rate of resolution in criminal court cases has risen from 95% to 106% in three years, meaning that more cases were being resolved than heard.

“The efficiency rate in the past three years has risen from 289 days in 2014 to 267 days in the corresponding period of 2016,” Bonnici said.

He added that civil cases had also seen a drop in pending cases, with the rate standing at 9,560 in June 2016, compared to 11,208 pending cases in the first six months of 2012.

“The efficiency rate here has also dropped from 651 days in the first half of 2012 to 611 days in the first half of 2016,” he said, adding that the government would continue to pursue further drops and more efficiency.