Justice ministry warns against attacking institutions over Fenech verdict

It is not the time for attacks and insults directed at institutions, the Justice ministry has said, calling out comments directed at the Attorney General and state institutions following the jury verdict in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial.

"This is not a moment for partisan and disrespectful comments, nor is it a time for attacks and insults directed at institutions," the Ministry said in a statement on Monday. 

The ministry referred to the government's stance, stating that it is taking a quiet and responsible position, given the need to handle the matter with maturity and prudence.

Earlier today, the Nationalist Party doubled down on its criticism of Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg, noting that she remains absent even as her office considers appealing the verdict in the trial of Yorgen Fenech.

PN MPs Joe Giglio and Conrad Borg Manche addressed a press conference discussing Fenech’s acquittal, the “absence of the Attorney General” and what they described as the “silence of the prime minister.”

The Ministry stressed the importance of respecting court decisions. "Institutions must be allowed to do their work, as they always have, and no ongoing procedure should be prejudiced," it said. This is what the rule of law and a mature democracy require.

They pointed to a string of reforms to strengthen the justice system over recent years. These include changes to how judges are appointed, the creation of a Court Commissioner for Standards, a new Commercial Court and reforms to the Family Court and Magistrate inquiries.

It was noted that the judiciary has grown from 43 to 62 members, an increase of more than 40%. There are now more than 48 full-time Court Advocates and more than 51 qualified Legal Assistants.

The ministry also said judges are now appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Committee, following a public call for nominations. According to the Ministry, this means it has deliberately limited its own power.

The Ministry explained what rule of law means in practice. "It does not mean that politicians decide who should be prosecuted, found guilty or freed. It means investigators investigate, prosecutors take decisions entrusted to them by law, and courts judge independently," the statement said.

The Ministry said it had chosen a consistent path of strengthening institutions without interfering in their decisions. It would continue to provide all resources needed to investigators to do their work as ordered by the court