Magistrates Leonard Caruana and Elaine Rizzo Appointed as Judges
In brief
- President Myriam Spiteri Debono has appointed Magistrates Leonard Caruana and Elaine Rizzo as Judges of the Superior Courts.
- The appointments followed a public call issued in July by the Justice Ministry that attracted 21 eligible applicants.
- The Judicial Appointments Committee assessed the candidates before recommendations were forwarded to the President.
President Myriam Spiteri Debono has officially appointed Magistrates Leonard Caruana and Elaine Rizzo as Judges of the Superior Courts.
The appointments were confirmed following a competitive evaluation process conducted by the Judicial Appointments Committee, which reviewed nominations before submitting its recommendations.
A public call for the judicial vacancies was initially published in July by Justice Minister Clifton Grima. A total of 21 eligible individuals submitted expressions of interest for the two open posts.
Both newly elevated judges have served on the magistrates' bench in Malta, handling criminal and civil matters prior to their elevation to the superior judiciary.
Under the reformed judicial appointment system introduced in 2020, judges and magistrates are chosen through an open competitive process overseen by the independent committee, rather than through direct political selection by the prime minister.
The elevation of the two magistrates creates vacancies in the lower courts that will need to be filled through subsequent calls to maintain the judicial workload.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Both outlets reported the judicial appointments factually, focusing on the selection process and the nominees.