A legal aid lawyer yesterday hit out at the court system in reaction to a magistrate who “encouraged” court authorities to investigate how he does his job after he failed to turn up in court three times.

Members of the judiciary very often have their own shortcomings

Lawyer Mark Busuttil said there were “practical realities in the system that had so many difficulties”.

“It would be far better if one keeps an open mind as lawyers keep an open mind when members of the judiciary very often have their own shortcomings,” he said.

He claimed to have some 200 legal aid cases involving both criminal and civil matters, which inevitably led to him being delayed in other courtrooms.

The number of legal aid lawyers had dropped to just 10. Everyone was leaving because of the conditions, Dr Busuttil said.

His reaction comes in the wake of a judgment handed down by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, who noted that Dr Busuttil had failed to turn up three times at court sittings.

The magistrate encouraged the authorities to investigate whether the lawyer was carrying out his duty properly and said action should be taken according to the findings.

Dr Busuttil was appearing for 32-year-old Alan Caruana, who was placed on probation for three years after he admitted stealing to fuel his drug problem.

Yesterday, the lawyer said the most important points raised in the case had been thrashed out in the first two sittings. Then a social worker asked for an extension for a pre-sentencing report to be drawn up and he was not notified.

“We have to work as a team,” Dr Busuttil said. “I don’t have the gift of bi-location.”