The Chamber of Advocates sees “no harm” in discussing changes suggested by fellow lawyer and Nationalist MP Franco Debono in a private Members’ Motion he filed in Parliament on Tuesday.

Asked for its reaction to Dr Debono’s 22 proposals concerning several aspects of the functioning of the justice system, Chamber president Reuben Balzan said some of the points raised were in the process of being implemented. An example was the proposed law on the legal profession which, he said, the Chamber had originally proposed in 2008 and was currently working on.

He said debating the issues Dr Debono had would be “healthy”. “Before the Parliamentary debate, or at least in parallel, we need an internal debate between the key players to discuss the way forward for this profession and to improve the administration of justice,” he added.

Asked about proposed changes to the way the Commission for Administration of Justice functioned, Dr Balzan said he would like to see the setting up of a forum composed of members of the legal profession and members of the judiciary to discuss the way forward. “Whatever the solution, members of the judiciary have to be accountable while, at the same time, remain autonomous.”

Regarding the appointment of judges and magistrates, Dr Balzan said it would “make sense” to improve the screening process prior to appointing a member of the judiciary.