In Valletta, Prime Minister Robert Abela, together with the Minister for Justice and Reform of the Construction Sector Jonthan Attard, inaugurated a new Court building dedicated to Inquiring Magistrates. This initiative reflects a clear and consistent vision to bring the justice system closer to the citizen, making it more modern, efficient, and accessible to all.
The new Inquiring Magistrates’ Building will house the specialised section of Inquiring Magistrates, the Registry of the Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction, and other related offices. This will ease the pressure on the main Courts of Justice building, creating more space, better organisation, and greater efficiency.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Abela stated that this inauguration represents another significant milestone in Malta’s path toward a modern and effective judicial system. He explained that this step follows the Government’s initiative to create a specialised section of Inquiring Magistrates.
The Prime Minister emphasised that this initiative complements the reform of the inquiry process, a reform designed to safeguard victims’ rights while ensuring that inquiry requests are based on justified purposes and clear facts. He recalled that the judicial sector is one of the three pillars sustaining Malta’s democracy and stressed that Government efforts are focused not only on improving infrastructure but also on strengthening incentives for those working in the judiciary. “Alongside providing the necessary resources for work to be carried out efficiently, we are committed to ensuring that the judiciary attracts the best talent and human resources possible,” Dr Abela noted.
He also highlighted ongoing investments in digitalisation, “We are continuously upgrading the Court’s digital systems. These include a €10 million investment in a new Court Case Management System, which is currently at tendering stage, and the launch of the Legal Aid Management System, through which legal aid has been fully digitalised to serve citizens across the Maltese Islands more effectively.” He further mentioned a nearly €2 million EU-funded investment for a new audio system across all courtrooms, which will ensure clear and secure recording of hearings and eliminate the need to rehear witnesses due to technical shortcomings.
Minister Jonathan Attard stated, “With the official opening of Palazzo Conte, we are formalising this legal development whereby Malta now has a specialised section of Inquiring Magistrates focused entirely on this sensitive aspect of criminal procedure, operating from a dedicated building equipped with all the necessary tools.” He noted that this specialisation is already yielding results: from the appointment of the four Inquiring Magistrates at the start of 2024 until the end of August, 1,251 magisterial inquiries were filed, with more than 830 concluded, a completion rate of over 65%.
Vanessa Grech, Chief Executive of the Agency for Court Services, remarked “The Courts, and everything they represent, are a public service. As an Agency, it is our duty to provide the best tools, modern infrastructure, and skilled human resources to meet the needs of today and the future.” She added that the Agency has seen growth on multiple fronts in recent years. “The first collective agreement signed a few years ago was just the beginning of our efforts to attract talent. Today, the Courts employ over 580 staff, including almost 100 lawyers who directly support the Judiciary.”
