Catching Up
The appointment of the first ever female judges is welcome news even if overdue. Judge Abigail Lofaro and Judge Anna Felice, both still in their forties, were sworn in yesterday evening at the Palace following years of lobbying by the Council of Women:
In that case, the more significant aspect of their nomination is the worrying fact that the Maltese Government was unable to do so before yesterday making Malta the last EU member state to appoint female members at senior levels of the Judiciary. My guess is that there may be other areas in the democratic workings of this country that require a degree of catching up with European norms.
The National Council of Women has expressed satisfaction at the nomination of the two women judges. It said it has for many years made recommendations regarding the need of appointing women to the judiciary.
During the ceremony , the President of the Republic chose to link the event with the development of democracy in Malta:
Speaking at the end of the ceremony, President Fenech Adami said that the nomination of the two female judges shows the democratic lines upon which Malta is built.
In that case, the more significant aspect of their nomination is the worrying fact that the Maltese Government was unable to do so before yesterday making Malta the last EU member state to appoint female members at senior levels of the Judiciary. My guess is that there may be other areas in the democratic workings of this country that require a degree of catching up with European norms.
Wed Sep 06, 10:39:23 PM CESTThe Times reported that the President welcomed the ladies to "the judiciary which was always held in high esteeem, a fact reflecting the vibrancy of the Maltese democracy."
I seem to recall some Maltese voices which would dissent on the esteem issue. As for the connection to democracy, that is a non sequitur because judiciaries can be, and have been, esteemed in pre-democratic countries as well.
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