No compulsory training for Malta's judiciary

Malta is among the only four EU member states where no compulsory training is given to members of judiciary, not even when they are appointed.

The comparative European Commission study – the 2016 Justice Scoreboard – notes that Malta, Cyprus, Finland and Sweden are the only EU countries where magistrates and judges receive no compulsory training.

It says that training is a necessary tool to sustain and improve the quality of judicial decisions that citizens deserve.

READ: EU scoreboard notes Malta has plenty of lawyers, not many judges

The study focuses on five areas: initial training, general in-service courses, specialised judicial functions, management and use of computer facilities.

While the Netherlands is the only EU member State to have compulsory training in all five areas, there is at least an obligation to receive initial training in 23 other countries. The UK was not included as no information was submitted.

Malta placed last, together with Cyprus and Slovakia in terms of training judges to communicate with parties and the press. No training at all is provided. When it came to participation in continuous training activities in either EU law or in the law of another...