KUMMISSJONI GĦALL-ĦATRA TA’ L-ESPERTI TAL-QORTI / COMMISSION ON THE APPOINTMENT OF COURT EXPERTS

Il-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja u Gvern Lokali Austin Gatt illum nieda l-Kummissjoni għall-Ħatra ta’ l-Esperti tal-Qorti. Din il-Kummissjoni twaqqfet biex tanalizza s-sitwazzjoni preżenti dwar kif jinħatru l-esperti tal-Qorti. L-esperti tal-Qorti jinħatru biex jassistu lill-Qrati jaqdu l-funzjonijiet tagħhom skond il-Kodiċi Kriminali u l-Kodiċi ta’ l-Organizzazzjoni u l-Proċeduri Ċivili.

Il-Kummissjoni hija komposta kif ġej:

Chairperson:

John Gatt - Segretarju Permanenti fil-Ministeru tal-Ġustizzja u Gvern Lokali

Membri:

Imħallef David Scicluna Nominat mill-Prim Imħallef

Maġistrat Consuelo Scerri Herrera Nominat mill-Prim Imħallef

L-Avukat Joseph Micallef Stafrace Nominat mill-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja u Gvern Lokali

L-Avukat Joseph Giglio Nominat mill-Ministru tal-Ġustizzja u Gvern Lokali

L-Avukat Stephen Tonna Lowell Nominat mill-Avukat Ġenerali tar-Repubblika ta’ MaltaL-Avukat Donatella Frendo Dimech Nominat mill-Avukat Ġenerali tar-Repubblika ta’ MaltaL-Assistent Kummissarju John Rizzo Nominat mill-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija

L-Avukat Francesco Depasquale Nominat mill-Kamra ta’ AvukatiL-Avukat Victor Zammit Nominat mill-Qrati tal-Ġustizzja

It-Termini ta’ Referenza huma annessi ma’ din l-istqarrija.

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Terms of Reference

Whereas both the Criminal Code (Chapter 9) and the Code of Organisation & Civil Procedure (Chapter 12) provide for the appointment of experts to assist the Courts by carrying out the functions assigned to them by the said Codes;

Whereas both the Criminal Code and the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure provide for the method of appointment of experts providing that the appointment may be either by the Court "motu propio" or by the Court from lists of experts compiled by the Minister responsible for Justice;

Whereas the present method of appointment of experts requires review with a view of;

establishing which areas of competence require the appointment of experts in both the Civil and the Criminal Courts and in doing so determine in which areas it is imperative that local expertise be developed;

determining what qualifications are required for each area of competence for a person to be deemed an expert and who should certify such qualifications;

establishing how panels of experts can be made more open to qualified persons who may wish to offer their services whilst ensuring that persons not so qualified are not included in the panel;

suggesting methods on how the panels of experts to be nominated by the Minister of Justice are, as far as possible, not subject to the absolute discretion of the Minister;

establishing procedures for the nomination of foreign experts when these are so required;

establishing procedures for the independent monitoring of the work undertaken by experts and for the removal of experts from panels.

Whereas it is also required to review the method of operation of experts with a view of:

possibly reducing the instances where a reference to experts is required without, however, in any way prejudicing the interests of justice;

increasing the efficiency of experts by reducing the time between their appointment and the delivery of their report;

reviewing the fees paid to experts and suggesting fixed tariffs in both the civil and criminal field which, as far as possible, justly remunerate the expert and minimize discretion;

introduce methods of accountability in order to assess the work produced by experts and devise evolution criteria;

suggest procedures meant to ensure that appointed experts have equal access to nominations whist ensuring that experts who do not deliver as required by the Court are duly penalised.

The Commission is being tasked to investigate and report on all the above matters as well as any other areas or matters it feels are important on the said subject and to make its recommendations thereon.

The report of the Commission should be submitted by the 31st March 2002.