A stronger Justice System
Numerous reforms have been done to keep on strengthening the Justice Sector.
During the past couple of years, our laws have also gone through a strong reform to keep on strengthening journalistic and artistic freedom. These laws which provide more protection, have put Malta on a high level when it comes to the respect of freedom of expression as they strengthen the former to unprecedented levels. I am sure that the people at large will start realising the difference we have made as soon as the relevant laws will start being used for the defence of the journalist.
We are also committed to provide an efficient justice administration which is of a higher quality and of service to our citizens as well. Measures were taken during the past five years to keep on strengthening this sector, and we are determined to keep on going.
We have already seen a decrease in pending cases in 2018 when compared to previous years, a clear sign that a better service to our country is being given. This decrease can be seen in the Civil Courts and Criminal Courts as well. The Justice Scoreboard which has been issued a few days ago is clear testament to the immense work which has been done. For instance, the Maltese justice system has placed first in the EU when it comes to a very important efficiency calculation – the clearance rate. In fact we have the best clearance rate in the whole European Union for civil, commercial and administrative cases when compared to those opened in 2016. Additionally, the Maltese Justice system has moved up three places when compared to last year’s scoreboard overall in terms of the length of time it takes of a case to be decided.
This was the fourth year running in which Malta has seen a positive decrease in the clearance rate and this government is committed to keep on improving its services for increase efficiency in our courts.
The Law Courts have also undergone infrastructural work which has resulted into more space for hearings to take place, with the aim to decrease the waiting time. In this regard, three new courtrooms have been opened in less than