Lorraine Schembri Orland is to be appointed a judge and Natasha Galea Sciberras a magistrate, the Government announced yesterday.

In a statement, it said the Cabinet had approved the nomination of both lawyers to the Bench.

Born in 1959 in Sliema, Dr Schembri Orland graduated as a lawyer in 1981 and specialised in European law and family law.

She was involved in reforms to the Constitution and was a member of a consultative committee that advised the Cabinet on amendments to the Civil Code.

Dr Schembri Orland was also heavily involved in drawing up legislation on domestic violence and was the first woman elected to the committee of the Chamber of Advocates.

She served as president of the National Council of Women, was a member of the consultative council on bioethics and also sat on the Caritas Malta management board for San Blas Rehabilitation Centre.

Dr Schembri Orland is married to George and they have a son called Kevin.

Dr Galea Sciberras was born in 1976 and graduated as a lawyer in 2003. She has worked in the family and civil law sectors. She was also the legal consultant of Aġenzija Appoġġ and Transport Malta and chaired the Adoptions Board.

Dr Galea Sciberras is married to Vincent Galea and they have five children.