Former judge and Labour MP Philip Sciberras has died aged 77, following a long battle with a terminal illness, his family said on Monday.

"Today we not only lost our dear gentle dad, whose memories we will forever cherish, but also a giant who bequeathed the country and the profession he loved so much with his profound knowledge and wisdom in law and literature. His knowledge was boundless," his son Andrew wrote on Facebook.

Also a poet and a writer, Sciberras served as an MP under Dom Mintoff at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s.

In a statement, the PL offered its condolences to his relatives, noting that Sciberras was also a published author.

Andrew said his father will miss the launch the first volume of his new series L-Alfabett tal-Kodiċi ta' Organizzazzjoni u Proċedura Ċivili, "for which he was so looking forward".

The family, he said, took solace in the fact that he was now at peace and in the "profound truth that his legacy will live on for years and decades to come".

Philip was married to Rose and had three children – all lawyers by profession – Lara, Alex and Andrew.

Throughout the day, several paid tribute to Sciberras.

Among them, Prime Minister Robert Abela referred to the late judge as "a thinker, a sage person and one of the country's best legal minds".

Abela said Sciberras was a point of reference for many, and he will be deeply missed.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, another lawyer by profession, said Sciberras "was an institution in and of himself" and noted that he would be remembered both as a jurist and as a writer. 

Former PL minister Justyne Caruana also paid tribute, saying there were not enough words to express her sorrow. 

The PN paid tribute to Sciberras in a statement, offering its condolences to his family. The party said the judge was also well known for his literary work about the Maltese language.