Judges and magistrates should not abuse their position with “censorable behaviour” or by slacking at work because it would reflect negatively on the rest of the judiciary, Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti said in his inaugural speech.

The comment echoed a similar one made by new Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri earlier this month and another made a month earlier by outgoing Chief Justice Vincent DeGaetano.

“The dignity and authority expected from members of the judiciary should come together in the integrity of their behaviour at work and in all other aspects of their life,” Mr Justice Chetcuti said.

He pointed out that judges and magistrates could not be anything but prepared in the use and application of the law and resolute and strong in their behaviour in and outside court.

Any “censorable behaviour” negatively affected the other members of the judiciary. Society should consider judges and magistrates protectors of its rights.

In short, he added, judges and magistrates did not earn respect because of their social standing but because of the manner in which they behaved and the just way in which they applied the law.

Mr Justice Chetcuti then touched upon the judiciary’s heavy caseload. Society gauged the success of the judiciary in terms of the number of judgments handed down but were not aware of the thousands of judicial applications and letters filed every year, he said. All these required a huge amount of work by the judiciary even though administrative resources were limited and, sometimes, inexistent.

He said that, even though the judicial system was imperfect, everyone – lawyers, the judiciary and court employees – always had to strive to give their best and constantly try to overcome any difficulties they encountered.

Mr Justice Chetcuti, who was appointed two months ago, also spoke about his 30 years of experience as a lawyer.

Most of the hard work and long hours the majority of lawyers put in each individual case was often overshadowed by the few who failed to do their duty, he said. But in reality, most lawyers spent long hours, including their weekends, trying to see how best to help their clients. “Few realise that a lawyer is not a machine, that he also has problems and a family that depends on him and often ends up exhausted and with no energy at the end of a long day,” he said.

Lawyers needed the support of their families – especially their partners – who had to understand and accept the heavy burden of long hours away from the family.

Mr Justice Chetcuti thanked his wife Ingrid and daughter Clara for their support, sacrifice and altruism throughout his career.