Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri yesterday said members of the judiciary had to aim for the highest ethical behaviour and not the lowest.

Speaking during the traditional New Year’s Day greetings at the presidential palace in Valletta, Dr Camilleri described President George Abela and his wife as a symbol of unity.

“I wish I could say the same for the judiciary,” Dr Camilleri said with a heavy heart as he addressed the President in a sombre tone. He said that “a number of allegations” were made at the end of the year that tarnished the reputation of the judiciary.

It was an indirect reference to the criminal proceedings against former judge Ray Pace and the impeachment motion moved by the Prime Minister against Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco after being mentioned in an Olympic Games ticketing probe.

The Chief Justice insisted the vast majority of the judiciary were hard-working and honest. However, in a frank admission, Dr Camilleri said his words might not be convincing and, insisted, the judiciary had to constantly win over the people’s trust through their actions.

“Members of the judiciary have to aim for the highest level of ethical behaviour and not the lowest... By time, I hope members of the judiciary can convince people of their integrity,” he said. Pointing his finger at the magistrates and judges around him, Dr Abela said their behaviour, even in their private life, had to be “beyond reproach”.

“It is not just about the method of choosing magistrates and judges but about the inherent qualities of the people chosen. It is about what they ought not to do,” Dr Abela said, insisting the judiciary enjoyed his full trust.

Dr Camilleri repeated his message when the judiciary called to convey their greetings on Archbishop Paul Cremona.

Dr Camilleri said anything that tainted one member of the Bench affected the rest and people rightly expected a lot from the judiciary.

He told Mgr Cremona the judiciary was under siege and drew parallels with a similar ordeal the Church passed through in the wake of the child sex abuse scandals.

“Now we must rebuild the people’s trust... The Church and judiciary have both gone through some tough times, we both have felt insulted and perhaps betrayed,” he said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

Additional reporting by Bertrand Borg.