Opposition and Repubblika accuse justice minister of ‘attacking’ the judiciary

The Nationalist Party and rule of law NGO Repubblika have accused Justice Minister Jonathan Attard of “attacking” the judiciary, after he said he expected the committee responsible for appointing judges to steer away from “controversial” candidates.

Attard was fielding media questions at a press conference yesterday when he was asked about Magistrate Gabriella Vella reportedly applying to become a judge.

Attard declined to comment on the merits of the application but said those responsible for appointments should avoid controversial candidates, in what has been interpreted as a thinly veiled reference to criticism levelled at Vella for her work on the Vitals inquiry.

Vella was criticised by Prime Minister Robert Abela and former PM Joseph Muscat over the four-year duration it took to conclude the inquiry. Muscat was also critical of social media posts by the magistrate's relatives and had sought her recusal.

Attard told ONE News: “I expect that the committee for judicial appointments ensures that the process is not tainted by public controversy, and to do this it should avoid appointing somebody who was or still is at the centre of certain controversies”.

In a statement Tuesday, the PN characterised the minister’s words as a “shameful” attempt to influence the committee responsible for appointing judges.

“It is disgraceful that the justice minister chose to appear on ONE to launch an attack on a member of the judiciary who, as is her full right, applied to be appointed as judge,” the party said.

The PN said Labour’s broadcasting arm in the same report had “sought to disparage” Vella’s application, “arguing she is at the centre of some controversy due to the conclusions she reached in the Vitals inquiry – conclusions based on reports prepared by the experts".

The Nationalist Party noted that the minister’s comments had aired immediately after the segment on Vella.

It said the comments “undermine the integrity of the very process for appointing members of the judiciary and represent an attempt to influence the Judicial Appointments Committee”.

“Such comments should not be made by anyone, least of all by the Minister responsible for justice in our country”, the PN said, adding it “remains firmly committed to defending the institutions of our nation”.

In a separate statement, Repubblika characterised Attard’s words as “an attack on the independence of the judiciary”.

“He says he doesn't want ‘controversial’ judges when the so-called controversy is nothing more than an attack by the Labour Party on a magistrate whose duty has led her to an uncomfortable truth: that corruption has consequences even for those who commit it.”

The PN statement was signed by shadow justice minister Joe Giglio.