Magistrate Carol Peralta is stepping down from the Bench, saying he is retiring, although the Ministry of Justice in a statement said he is resigning.  

The Magistrate in a resignation letter to the President said he has decided to retire, after profound and tranquil reflection.

He said he had taken his decision after several disappointments and disillusionment locally,  but with satisfaction for having been able to serve in judicial posts in Malta and abroad.

Magistrate Peralta, 63, was two years short of the maximum retirement age for members of the judiciary. He, however, could also have retired as soon as he turned 62.

See his resignation letter, sent to the President, below. (click on pdf below). 

Magistrate Peralta was involved in controversy in 2013 after holding a Christmas party in his courtroom and ordering the arrest of a Times of Malta reporter. (See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131221/local/magistrate-peraltas-account-in-his-own-words.499945 ) The case is still being considered by the Council for the Administration of Justice.

He had previously risked two impeachment motions, but both fell through. 

The first motion was presented in 1990 by MP (now judge) Wenzu Mintoff on grounds of misbehaviour when Dr Peralta was magistrate in Gozo. 

In 1994, prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami presented another impeachment motion for undisclosed reasons, but the Council for the Administration of Justice found there were no grounds for it to proceed.

Dr Peralta was the most senior member of the Bench with 24 years’ experience.

Despite the controversies, lawyers often praised him for his common sense and sense of fairness.

He was also well known for his occasional short temper and for the comic relief.

Magistrate Peralta served for 13 years on the UN Interim Mission in Kosovo with jurisdiction over war crimes and organised crime.

He was then appointed presiding judge of the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of Kosovo, dealing with privatisation matters. Ten months later he was elevated to the position of Chief International Judge of Kosovo with overall responsibility for managing the international justice programme in the country. 

In January 2008, Dr Peralta was asked to join the State Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina as an international judge with first instance jurisdiction over war crimes and organised crime. 

Attached files

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