Former Labour MP and party activist Wenzu Mintoff was sworn in as a judge this morning.

He was sworn in at the Palace by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in the presence of the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General.

Also present were members of his family, including his uncle Fr Dyonisius Mintoff OFM.

The new judge in brief comments during the ceremony said that independence and impartiality would be his benchmark.

The prime minister defended the choice, pointing out that in the past people who had served in the Cabinet had still been appointed to the Bench, and had served well. Dr Mintoff would be no exception. His integrity was unquestioned, he said.

Asked if the Commission for the Administration of Justice had been consulted before the appointment, he said the practice of the past was followed.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the governemnt was convinced he had sufficient experience as required by the Constitution to serve as judge.

The appointment has drawn surprise in legal and political circles, with some questioning his suitability.

Another question raised was whether Dr Mintoff had the necessary experience required to take up the post, with a parallel being drawn with the nomination in 2002 of respected lawyer André Camilleri.

Dr Camilleri was turned down by the Commission for the Administration of Justice because he was not deemed to have enough experience.   The government is not obliged to consult the commission before appointing a judge.

One lawyer yesterday told Times of Malta that what applied to Dr Camilleri should apply to others.

“I have been practising daily at the law courts for the past 20 years and I’m not sure that I’ve seen Wenzu Mintoff practising as a lawyer more than twice,” he exclaimed.

However, when contacted, Dr Mintoff said he had been a lawyer since 1984 and practised at the courts throughout the years. “I only stopped practising as a lawyer when Alan Camilleri became chairman of Malta Enterprise [in 2008],” he said.

Asked whether he felt that his nomination was a partisan one and whether he was seen to have the necessary impartiality to occupy this sensitive office, he said he was precluded from making comments as a member of the judiciary.

PN Justice spokesman Beppe Fenech Adami said: “Appointing a judge who until yesterday was actively militating in partisan politics does not augur well for the necessary respect of the judiciary. It seems that Owen Bonnici’s talk and publications about justice reforms are just lip service.” 

PN Home Affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi asked if the judiciary is in the process of being hijacked by the government.

But former Justice Minister Charles Mangion, speaking in Parliament this morning, said Dr Mintoff should be judged on his work, not his political opinion. Political opinions should not stop such people from being eligible for such positions, he said. 

More reactions on Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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