Strasbourg, 18 November 2002                                                                          CCJE (2003) 27

[ccje/docs2003/CCJE(2003)27]                                                                                                                    English only

CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN JUDGES

(CCJE)

QUESTIONNAIRE ON

JUDGES’ TRAINING

Reply submitted

by

the delegation of Malta


Questionnaire on Judges, Training

a.         Initial trainings for prospective judges

1.         Prospective judges are chosen from the ranks of experienced advocates and are not given any initial training.

2.         The right to or requirement to undergo training is not stipulated in any law or regulation.

b.                 In-service training

1.         There is no in-service judges’ training scheme set up on a permanent basis. However, from time to time ad hoc seminars are held. These seminars are organised by the Executive or the Judges themselves. Some of the subjects covered recently were the major amendments to the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure and to the Criminal Code. In view of the fact that Malta is a candidate for European Union membership, lectures on European law are being held on a regular basis.

2.         Attendance to such training sessions is optional.

3.         These seminars are not run by any formal organisation. However, Malta is exploring the possibility of setting up a formal organisation to provide in service training for judges.

4.         Regulation 3 of the Code of Ethics for members of the judiciary makes the duty of judges to be always well trained professionally. Moreover, this regulation states that within the limits of the means and resources that the State is in duty bound to place at their disposal, judges are to keep themselves informed regarding developments in legal and judicial matters.

5.         There is no specific training scheme for judges at the beginning of their careers. Although no formal monitoring system is in place, judges who are at the beginning of their careers frequently consult senior members of the bench when they encounter difficulties.