Gozo Court Crisis Ignored Again In Budget 2026, Avukati Għawdex Says

Avukati Għawdex, the association of Gozo lawyers, expressed deep disappointment over the complete omission of the Gozo Court’s situation in the 2026 Budget. Despite repeated promises over the years to construct a new Court building in Gozo, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana failed to present any concrete plans or deadlines for this much-needed project during his budget speech on Monday, 27 October 2025.

The current administration of the Gozo Court is in a critical state. Courtrooms are overcrowded, and staff are forced to work in extremely limited spaces. In some cases, ongoing court files are stacked on the floor due to lack of storage and space.

Judges operating from the Gozo Court also face difficulties performing their duties, as there are insufficient halls to accommodate Courts, Tribunals, and Boards functioning from the island.

The present building is largely inaccessible to people with mobility challenges, as every floor and courtroom can only be reached via stairs. This not only creates indirect discrimination against citizens with disabilities but also contradicts the recommendations of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority and the National Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, as highlighted in their February 2021 reports.

Avukati Għawdex urges civil authorities to take immediate action to ensure that all citizens can access justice in a safe, accessible, and modern environment, and that the Gozo Court can operate efficiently.

Avukati Għawdex concluded, “The Gozo Court cannot continue to function in a building dating back to the time of the Order of St John. The people of Gozo deserve better.”

#MaltaDaily