New members of judiciary

Two new judges and a magistrate are expected to be officially named by government today, filling vacancies within the judiciary created by the departure of two senior members.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano and Mark Chetcuti, a lawyer, will be appointed judges following the retirement of Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono and the election of Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano to serve on European Court of Human Rights, sources told The Times.

Lawyer Marse-Ann Farrugia has been selected as a magistrate to replace Dr Quintano.

It has not yet been decided who will fill the shoes of the Chief Justice once he takes up his new post in Strasbourg, which he must do by September, but the name is likely to be announced next month.

That person need not come from those serving on the Bench but may be plucked from the ranks of practising lawyers.

Dr Chetcuti, 52, has been practising for 28 years, specialising in civil and family law and serving on the domestic arbitration panel as well as the Refugee Appeals Board.

Senior Magistrate Dr Quintano, who turns 61 on Thursday, was appointed to the Bench in 2003. He was previously working within the Attorney General’s office and is a senior lecturer in civil law at the University.

Dr Farrugia, who turns 39 on Friday, was called to the bar in 1994. She holds a diploma in Canon law and marriage, is an assistant lecturer at the University, and was judicial assistant and legal secretary to the Chief Justice.

All three will take their oath in the coming weeks and their duties will be assigned by the Chief Justice.