A banner mocking Justice Minister Owen Bonnici was stuck to the gates of the law courts building in Valletta on Sunday night.

The protest was held by the group Reżistenza after the magistrate leading the inquiry into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia was promoted judge. He will thus have to hand over the inquiry to another magistrate, causing inevitable delay.

The development, an open secret for a number of weeks, had also raised concerns among MEPs who discussed the rule of law in Malta two weeks ago. 

The group also protested over the promotion to judge of Magistrate Consuelo Scerri-Herrera.

"What legitimate reason could there be for the acceptance of Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera for promotion to judge after an identical request made in January 2017 was turned down by the judicial appointment committee? The reason for the denial remains as before, the only changes being the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the retirement of Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri," the group said in a statement.

The group said the letter of the law is being used to break its spirit when outcomes are not favourable to the government and its agents. The mask is off and the face of this regime is revealed for all to see and it is not the face of democracy. 

Magistrate Anthony Vella will be sworn in on Monday along with two other magistrates who are also being made judges. Three lawyers are being appointed magistrates. 

[attach id=656471 size="large" align="left"]Pictures: Darrin Zammit Lupi.[/attach]