The Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Dr. Owen Bonnici this afternoon formally received the Second Document for Public Consultation prepared by the Commission for the Holistic Reform of the Justice System.

This second document was presented within the deadlines articulated in the terms of reference of the Commission published on the 24th of March 2013.

This report, is now being put forward for public consultation so that primary stakeholders and the Public can forward their suggestions and views up to a month from the publication of this consultative document.

This is the second document from a series of three, which the Commission had to prepare for public consultation.

This second document focuses on specific themes related to the Justice sector including Legal Aid, the Citizen’s Charter, the setting up of a Civil Administrative Court, Mediation and Arbitration, the Parole System, the Family Court and the Gozo Courts.

The First Document for Consultation, published by the Commission addressed check and balances and accountability in the administration of Justice, the appointment and working of the Judiciary and the better use of ICT in the Courts of Justice.

It further focused on the preparation of amendments to the law with regards criminal procedure so that criminal court cases can be heard and processed faster and on that plea bargaining would be extended to the Inferior Courts

The third and final document will be presented in the coming October. This third document will consolidate the first two documents as amended and refined after the public consultation process. The third document therefore will articulate the final position and recommendations of the Commission which will then be discussed at Cabinet level.

Dr Owen Bonnici thanked the members of the Commission for their sterling and efficient work. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to see that this reform truly achieves its aims chiefly that of ensuring democratic access to Justice in reasonable time as befits a European Country, that the case backlog is reduced and resolved and that obstacles to business and Malta’s competitiveness are minimised.

All this would of course be in line with the suggestions of the European Union.

A copy of the Second Document for Public Consultation has been uploaded on the KRHG website: www.krhg.gov.mt.

Formal copies of the consultative document will be forwarded to the primary stakeholders.

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