The Commission was set up in 1994 and is composed of 10 members: the President of Malta George Abela, as Chairman; Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, as Deputy Chairman; Attorney General Peter Grech; two members elected from among the Judges of the Superior Courts ( Mr Justice Joe Azzopardi and Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo); two members elected from among the Magistrates of the Inferior Courts (Magistrate Tony Vella and Magistrate Claire Zammit Stafrace); one member appointed by the Prime Minister (Mr Justice Victor Caruana Colombo) and one member appointed by the Leader of the Opposition (Pawlu Lia); and the President of the Chamber of Advocates (Reuben Balzan).

Since the Chairman has only a casting vote, this means that the members of the judiciary on the Commission always have a majority of votes. This is considered as essential to ensure autonomy from the executive and the legislature and to safeguard the independence of the judiciary.

Broadly speaking, the Commission has jurisdiction over the workings of the courts and the behaviour of judges, magistrates, lawyers and legal procurators.

The functions of the Commission include the supervision of the workings of all the superior and inferior courts and to make recommendations to the minister responsible for justice as to the remedies, which appear to it, conducive to a more efficient functioning of such courts.

It also advises the minister responsible for justice on any matter relating to the organisation of the administration of justice and, when so requested by the Prime Minister, to advise on any appointment of new judges or magistrates.

The Commission is also responsible for drawing up a code of ethics regulating the conduct of members of the judiciary; to draw the attention of any judge or magistrate on any matter, in any court in which he sits, which may not be conducive to an efficient and proper functioning of such court, and to draw the attention of any judge or magistrate to any conduct which could affect the trust conferred by their appointment or to any failure on his or her part to abide by any code or codes of ethics relating to him or her.