It seems more than a touch odd that Justice has been split from Home Affairs twice in the space of six months by two different administrations. But even in this strange context, Joseph Muscat’s decision to bite the bullet was still a sound move.

Aside from all the reasons that have been mooted before as to why the two portfolios should not be mixed together, it was clear that there was a personality clash between Manuel Mallia and Owen Bonnici. Rather than allow that to fester, the Prime Minister nipped it in the bud.

What is less clear is how his relationship is shaping up with Dr Mallia, who was given super-minister status only to see a portion of that stripped away just three months later. Is the Prime Minister unhappy with the minister, particularly in the wake of the prison amnesty debacle, or worried that he may have endowed him with too much power?

Nor is it immediately apparent why Dr Muscat chose his 100-day press conference to communicate this decision. There were surely more opportune moments to take such a step.

But what is clear is that Dr Bonnici has a tough area to deal with as he seeks to grapple with a sector that has to date proved unmanageable and incapable of reform. Practically everyone agrees that there is dire need for change, but the question is whether judges, magistrates and lawyers will allow it to happen and whether there is the political will to back up the talk.

The legal profession in Malta is dogged by a huge inherent contradiction. While many lawyers and members of the judiciary insist on a certain level of formality – excessively so in several cases – the building in which they operate is more akin to a rowdy cattle market than one of the country’s most important institutions.

Lawyers are invariably late, members of the judiciary adjourn cases at will or send text messages during proceedings or else act in a manner which demeans those in the courtroom. Proceedings which should be over in weeks are dragged out over many years – not to mention all the time that is wasted by parties having to wait needlessly for their case to be called. It is little short of shambolic.

An efficiency review conducted by the Management Efficiency Unit found that it would take judges and magistrates till 2021 to clear the existing backlog – and that’s only if no new cases are brought before them, which is clearly impossible. To boot, almost 16,000 criminal cases have been pending for 10 years or more.

There are many things that can be done. Dr Bonnici alluded to some – in short, too many matters that shouldn’t be in court end up there due to an antiquated system – and the commission headed by Giovanni Bonello has also made a number of proposals that merit serious consideration.

The Chief Justice used the occasion of the appointment of new members of the judiciary – it cannot not be noted that one of those promoted had previously been censured by the Commission for the Administration of Justice – to complain about a lack of consultation.

However, his comments came across rather unfortunately as a little churlish, especially as he has himself steadfastly refused – in complete contrast to his predecessor – to engage with the media (and therefore the people) on a very important aspect of people’s lives: the legal system.

The legal system is, as many find out to their cost, not to be equated with justice, and we have regrettably reached a stage where the public has given up hope of things changing for the better.