Future commercial court building transferred to court agency
The new commercial court will handle competition, consumer protection and IP disputes, among others
A building that will serve as the new commercial court was signed over to the Court Services Agency from the Lands Authority, the government announced Thursday.
In a statement, the Justice Ministry said the building on Melita Street, on the corner of Triq id-Dejqa in Valletta, would be used for “better administration of justice”.
Discussions about the reintroduction of a commercial court kicked off in Parliament last month. A prior court serving the same purpose was abolished in 1995.
Speaking in Parliament last month, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard said the new court would “reduce the burden on the First Hall of the Civil Court where judges are handling a substantial number of cases”.
The new commercial court will deal with cases related to competition, consumer protection, maritime disputes, civil aviation, insolvency, and intellectual property rights.
Speaking on Thursday, Attard said the new court was “not only an instrument of justice, but also a means of efficiency, predictability and trust in the legal system".
Noting that the building was currently unused, Lands Minister Owen Bonnici said its transfer would serve the Maltese and Gozitan people “in the best possible way”.
The transfer was signed by the Lands Authority CEO Robert Vella and Court Services Agency Chief Executive Vanessa Grech.