Dr Toni Abela was appointed judge “over and above” the number of required judges so as to gain experience before a member of the judiciary retired next year, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici told parliament this evening.

Dr Bonnici said Mr Justice Abela had been delegated to help “the most knowledgeable judge” in Malta but “the one least efficient”. He would be tackling cases which had dragged for a long time.

Dr Abela, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, was sworn in last November.

READ New judge Toni Abela to begin hearing cases

The minister said Dr Grezzio Mercieca had been appointed a magistrate to be able to take over from Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona in November.

On Monday, the minister had described as “scandalous” the fact that Magistrate Micallef Trigona had been putting off all cases allocated to him until after his retirement.

Dr Bonnici paid tribute to Magistrates Gino Camilleri and Saviour Demicoli who had continued working to the very end despite their indisposition.

Winding up the debate on a Bill to amend the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure Act, the minister recalled that it was the Labour government which had improved the pension of the members of the judiciary.  

Dr Bonnici also said that the time had come to amend the law so that cases before the Civil Court of Appeal would not be heard by just one judge. Such a move would hasten decisions.

The Bill, which will extend the jurisdiction of the Maltese First Hall of the Civil Court to Gozo, was unanimously approved. As a result, cases in Gozo will be heard by a judge, not a magistrate as at present.