Court Sittings On Domestic Violence Up To 8 Per Week, Government Reports
The government reported recent developments in the judiciary’s handling of domestic violence cases. One notable change is the increase in magistrates focusing on these cases, rising from one to three.
This development has allowed for greater specialisation and focus on managing both summary cases and compilations related to domestic violence.
Additionally, the number of weekly court sessions addressing domestic violence has grown from an average of 2–3 to 8 per week.
This expansion has contributed to progress in addressing the backlog of cases. In 2024, the government stated that 125 compilations were initiated, with 110 resolved. Furthermore, 1,845 summary cases were introduced, of which 1,549 were decided.
The government also highlighted plans to continue strengthening the judiciary’s specialisation in domestic violence cases by appointing more magistrates. The aim is to ensure that these cases are treated with the necessary attention and focus rather than as general offences.
Efforts to increase public awareness through educational campaigns were also noted, with the goal of ensuring that more people are informed about available support services.
The government interpreted the rise in reported domestic violence cases as evidence of growing societal awareness compared to past trends when such incidents often went unreported.
The Partit Nazzjonalista’s Statement on Domestic Violence Cases
The Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) raised concerns about the judiciary’s ability to manage domestic violence cases, emphasising the need for a substantial increase in magistrates handling these matters.
The PN cited official statistics from November 2024 to illustrate the workload faced by magistrates:
Magistrate A: 1,601 pending cases
Magistrate B: 793 pending cases
Magistrate C: 17 pending cases
Total: 2,411 pending cases
The PN pointed out that this reflects an increase from November 2023, when the number of pending cases stood at 2,236.
The party highlighted that the current caseload places immense pressure on magistrates, attributing the situation to what it sees as inadequate government investment in judicial resources and infrastructure.
The PN stressed that an increase in magistrates should be accompanied by more support staff with expertise in legal and procedural practices to ensure efficiency.
The party also referenced recommendations by former Judge Lawrence Quintano, who called for urgent measures such as the prompt issuance of protection orders and the redistribution of pending cases among all magistrates until additional resources are in place.
Excessive delays in court decisions were described as a secondary injustice to victims of domestic violence. The PN noted the seriousness of the issue, citing over 7,000 reported cases of domestic violence since 2020, and called for this growing problem to be given higher priority.
The PN reaffirmed its proposals for tackling domestic violence, emphasising the need for a coordinated effort to reduce delays, support victims, and address the issue comprehensively.
The party urged the government to ensure the judiciary is equipped with the necessary resources to deliver timely justice and protect those affected by domestic violence.
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