Changes to the way judges and magistrates are appointed and disciplined have been included in a draft law being analysed by the Attorney General.

The Bill that deals with changes in judicial institutions was prepared by University law dean Kevin Aquilina and follows the recommendations made last year by the Giovanni Bonello Commission, a justice reform body.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the Attorney General was now going through the draft, which would then be presented to a steering committee that included all stakeholders.

He was speaking at the court registry in Valletta soon after taking his oath of office as minister.

The draft includes recommendations for reforming the Commission for the Administration of Justice among other institutional changes, he added.

Dr Bonnici said he had talks with Opposition justice spokes-man Beppe Fenech Adami and a number of suggestions made were passed on for inclusion in the draft.

The Bonello commission had proposed a radical overhaul of the way members of the judiciary are appointed and disciplined. The judiciary criticised the proposals, which they deemed to be an affront to their independence.

The proposals diluted the function of the Commission for the Administration of Justice, which has often been accused of toothlessness.

Dr Bonnici said at the time the government would not take on board all the Bonello commission’s suggestions but was intent on strengthening the commission and giving it more power.

The message I want to send out is that this is a government open to ideas

The Bonello commission had suggested that a special prosecutor should be tasked with taking action against judges and magistrates in front of a disciplinary authority in cases of misconduct.

It also recommended setting up a three-member authority for discipline composed of a sitting judge and magistrate elected by their peers and a member representing the people chosen by the President.

With regard to the appointment of the members of the judiciary, the commission also proposed a radical shake-up, diluting the justice minister’s present sole discretion.

It is unclear what the draft law contains – Prof. Aquilina was a member of the Bonello commission – but it is expected to usher in significant changes.

Meanwhile, Dr Bonnici announced the amalgamation of the Malta and Gozo court registries to make it more convenient for people to file cases in either registry irrespective of where the case will be heard.

Culture and party financing

In Owen Bonnici’s words, the inclusion of culture in his ministerial portfolio is pretty much “a homecoming”.

The artistic community, which did not take to former culture parliamentary secretary José Herrera, has welcomed Dr Bonnici’s appointment after he shadowed the sector for five years.

“The message I want to send out is that this is a government open to ideas,” he said, when asked about the direction he intended to take.

Asked whether he would retain V-18 chairman Jason Micallef, Dr Bonnici said he still had to meet him formally and discuss the way forward. However, he added that with the “good work” by Mr Micallef and his team, he was sure V-18 would be a success.

Asked about the next stage of the party financing law, Dr Bonnici said he would be having one-on-one meetings with the three political parties.

“We are on track to have a law governing political party financing by the summer as promised,” he said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com