Government awaiting Opposition reaction to latest nominee for chief justice

The justice minister said on Wednesday that he is still awaiting feedback from the Opposition on the latest government nominee to become chief justice.

It is understood that the government nominated Madam Justice Miriam Hayman at a meeting last week.

Jonathan Attard told reporters that the latest nominee - whom he did not name - enjoyed all the qualities needed to serve as chief justice and fitted into the criteria for nomination discussed at a meeting which was attended by the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. But the Opposition had still not given its feedback.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said in parliament on Tuesday that those criteria included having a judge who was not too close to retirement age, and not being too young either. 

The government initially nominated Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera to the post, but her nomination failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives.

Asked about Chamber of Advocates criticism that the appointment of the chief justice was being turned into a political farce, Attard said he would not comment other than to point out that in moving the initial motion to nominate Judge Scerri Herrera, the government had been responsible, and ensured that the incumbent chief justice remained in saddle until his successor was appointed.  

The government, he said, had taken politically courageous steps to change the law so that the nomination of the chief justice required a qualified majority, but, he insisted, this should not be an opportunity for the Opposition to  blackmail the government.