€750,000 infrastructure project frees up new courtrooms

Justice minister Owen Bonnici has launched a €750,000 infrastructure project, increasing the number of available courtrooms in Valletta to 27.

This was achieved by relocating part of the archives to Floriana, freeing up space that will be converted to three new halls. The project is expected to be completed by 2017, Bonnici said.

Speaking at a press conference, Bonnici said that it was useless to appoint new members of the judiciary if they had nowhere to work.

42 judges and magistrates currently share the 24 available halls.

Aside from the three new rooms, a training room and library will also be added, the minister said.

This is the second step in Bonnici's move towards a more efficient justice system, the first step being the relocation of offices for the judiciary to Strait Street. 

The experience of the recent introduction of court attorneys, who assist judges in their research for civil cases, has also been a positive one, Bonnici said, adding that the measure had increased efficiency and reduced the time spent waiting for judgements to be delivered.