Edwina Grima is PN’s top choice for chief justice

Judge Edwina Grima is the Nationalist Party’s preferred candidate for the role of chief justice, although the party has put forward other names in the past.

The PN said in a statement on Tuesday that it had proposed an alternative candidate but did not say who they were proposing. However, sources privvy to the talks told MaltaToday that Opposition leader Alex Borg proposed Edwina Grima for the post but received no feedback from the government on the choice. 

The government’s preferred candidate is Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera. Justice Minister Jonathan Attard confirmed this publicly last week. Despite no cross-party consensus on her nomination, the government has tabled a parliamentary motion nominating her for the role.

Borg wrote a letter to the prime minister on Tuesday objecting the prime minister’s decision to table the motion. He said he made it clear during their last private meeting that there would be no agreement on the name put forward by the PM. During that same meeting, he said, he proposed the name of another individual as a possible alternative. MaltaToday understands that this is Edwina Grima.

In his letter, Borg said it was difficult to understand why Abela was persisting to the point of tabling a parliamentary motion on a nominee who was known not to command the required consensus. He added that this approach was not in the best interests of justice, particularly given that it places a sitting member of the judiciary in a contentious political situation.

The Opposition leader also said he was still awaiting a response from the prime minister on the alternative name he had proposed. He asked for a date and time to resume discussions on the matter in what he described as a mature, discreet and institutionally appropriate manner.

Borg concluded by saying that, during a meeting that has yet to be scheduled, he would also be prepared, if necessary, to put forward additional names for consideration which he believes could be suitable candidates for the post.