Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis is traveling to Gozo today to try and solve severe administrative problems within the Gozitan court that led 19 lawyers to boycott it entirely. 

Zammit Lewis confirmed with Lovin Malta that he will hold separate meetings with lawyers who practice in the courts as well as court workers to pave the way forward. 

He said that there’s a clear recruitment problem, with the Gozo court unable to attract people to work in certain administrative positions. 

Court Services Agency CEO Eunice Grech Fiorini is accompanying the minister.

On Tuesday, 19 lawyers who practice in the Gozitan courts announced they will boycott sittings until severe administrative problems are solved.

They warned that documents and court applications aren’t being processed in time, documents are being lost, decrees aren’t being communicated, and transcriptions aren’t taking place, with lawyers sometimes having to step in themselves. 

They also flagged serious IT and WiFI problems, as well as infrastructural issues that have been identified by the Commission for People With Disabilities and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

“We’re not taking this action out of disrespect to the court authorities or our clients but because we believe this is the only way our complaints, our clients’ complaints and the court workers’ complaints will be addressed expeditiously to ensure the justice system in Gozo can take place normally,” they wrote.