A 355-page Bill encompassing the entire justice reform promised before the last election will be finalised by the end of the month and will make its way to Parliament in the coming months. It will be based on the 450-point document drafted last year by retired European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello.

Entitled the Proper Administration of Justice Bill, the draft law is being penned by the Dean of the Faculty of Laws, Kevin Aquilina.

Owen Bonnici

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici described the Bill as “a huge step forward” saying it was comparable to an entire code of law: “This addresses all the issues raised by the justice reform board headed by Dr Bonello. Is this the answer to all our problems? Well, it will be the best shot we’ve ever given it. I can’t remember a law this big ever being passed before,” he said.

Dr Bonnici said the toughest hurdles would come in the form of institutional reforms. “The biggest challenges will come when we address issues such as the way judges and magistrates are answerable to the Commission for the Administration of Justice and other similar measures,” he said, adding the Bill also touched on such issues as appointments to the judiciary and training.

Many of the changes will require a number of constitutional changes, which will need a two-thirds majority to pass through the House. Dr Bonnici said he would be holding another round of consultation with the judiciary and the Opposition once the draft is completed.

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