New Chief Justice to be appointed within weeks

The new chief justice is expected to be appointed either by the end of the month or next month, sources have said.

The Prime Minister said he will start consultations on the appointment of a new Chief Justice when he returns from his visit to Australia and New Zealand in two weeks' time.

The Chief Justice will be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The candidate's name will also be approved by the Cabinet.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Dr Fenech Adami yesterday said it was too premature to comment on who the Chief Justice will be.

Justice Minister Austin Gatt also said it was too early to comment.

Sources yesterday said that the prime minister has not made up his mind on whom he will appoint to succeed Dr Noel Arrigo, who was appointed Chief Justice only last January.

"Appointing a Chief Justice is always a difficult task. Choosing the best candidate in the present circumstances will prove to be much more complicated. The prime minister has to ensure that the new Chief Justice will able to restore confidence in the judiciary and at the same time enjoy the support of a wide spectrum of people and institutions."

Sources said that there was no particular urgency to appoint a Chief Justice for two reasons: first of all, an Acting Chief Justice has already been appointed in the person of Mr Justice Joseph D. Camilleri, who has taken control of the situation; secondly, work in most courts, excluding the Criminal Court, had stopped for the summer recess and will only resume in the third week of September.

Sources also said it is not excluded that the government will appoint a Chief Justice who is not currently a member of the judiciary.

One of the persons being mentioned as a favourite for the post is Attorney-General Anthony Borg Barthet. Dr Borg Barthet, 55, has been serving as Attorney-General for 13 years. According to sources, one of the drawbacks of appointing him Chief Justice will be his replacement, especially as he is presently pioneering important reforms at the AG's office.

Another lawyer who is actively being mentioned for the post is Dr Philip Sciberras, who in any case was expected to be appointed judge in October.

Dr Sciberras, 57, a former Labour MP, is considered to enjoy wide support.

If the Prime Minister decides to appoint a Chief Justice from the Bench, the likely candidates are Acting Chief Justice Camilleri and Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo, who was appointed judge in 1994, and the recently appointed Judge Joseph Galea Debono.