In a press conference at the Auberge d’Aragon, Minister for Justice Jonathan Attard announced the infrastructural project of the Criminal Court known as ‘Il-Ferjol’ and listed several initiatives related to the budget for 2024, whereby for another year the Justice sector recorded an increase in budget.
Minister Attard explained how the Criminal Court with a total investment of over €5 million will translate into three courtrooms equipped with the latest technology, judges’ chambers, and a number of offices for officials who assist the judiciary. This building will also house the Criminal register as well as a specialized area for victims. This area will be accessible only to the victims and will have a different entrance to ensure the best possible protection.
Minister Jonathan Attard also spoke about the strengthening of human resources in every entity within the Ministry. The Court Services Agency today employs 500 workers, an increase of 32% from that of 2013, 29 Court Attorneys and 47 Judicial Assistants – a total of 76 lawyers engaged to assist the judiciary. The Legal Aid Agency will also see a substantial increase where it will be hiring over 50 lawyers and 9 legal procurators – 4 times the compliment available prior to 2013. The Office of the Attorney General and the State Attorney have seen a continuous increase year on year and today there are a total of 134 officials across the two offices, 3 times the amount in 2013.
The judiciary also saw the highest increase in complement ever recorded, whereby by the end of the year Malta will have a Chief Justice, 28 Judges and 29 Magistrates.
The Minister emphasized how several infrastructure projects were also carried out including an additional Courtroom in the Family Court, installation of Digital Document Cameras and video conferencing equipment, as well as a new WI-FI systems. Works on a new courtroom for trials by jury are ongoing and the launch of a Help Desk service at Court is imminent.
Minister Jonathan Attard stressed how the increase in budget allocation for the Justice sector is a testament to this Government prioritizing the Justice sector. “The allocation of €60 million for the Justice sector, not only signifies an increase of 21% on this year but that the allocation is almost 4 times more than what was allocated under the previous administration,” concluded Minister Attard.
Permanent Secretary Johan Galea also addressed the conference giving a detailed analysis of the budget allocations of the entities within the Ministry for Justice and explaining how entities within the Ministry all registered a substantial increase in budget allocation with the aim of continuing our path to an efficient justice system.
