Ethical behaviour takes us that extra mile on the road to integrity beyond that required by law. Ethical behaviour does not restrict freedom; it gives freedom a new dimension. All citizens are expected to behave in an ethically commendable way. But those holding public office, above all others, are expected to lead by example.

A most serious situation has been created after the Commission for the Administration of Justice decided that Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco and Magistrate Antonio Mizzi are in breach of the code of ethics of the judiciary. The Commission, which is chaired by the President and includes representatives of the judiciary, held that as long as the judge and the magistrate retained their posts in sports organisations they are acting unethically. The Commission even published the letter it had sent to them.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco and Magistrate Mizzi's reaction has been one of utter defiance. They kept on their business in the courts and in the sports associations to which they appertain; this behaviour is nothing short of scandalous.

In an editorial entitled 'Justice cannot be blinkered' (October 25), The Times said: "Society now anxiously awaits the next step, knowing that justice is blind, not blinkered".

The Times followed with another editorial last Monday entitled 'Justice waiting to be done', stating: "The people are still waiting for justice to be done, that sort of justice that Sir Igor (the president of the Queen's Bench Division of England and Wales) insisted 'must be done according to the law, not according to the individual whim, or wish, or hope, or aspiration of every one of the individual judges who sit on the bench' ".

Both gentlemen have nevertheless stayed put. Do we want people sitting on the Bench who are ready to defy legitimately constituted authoritative bodies?