Newly-appointed Magistrate Nadine Lia is already facing an uphill battle in her own courtroom after conflicts erupted between her and her deputy registrar.

Initially reported on Net News, sources told Lovin Malta that Lia’s deputy registrar wants to leave her post, barely three months after Lia was appointed to the role.

Sources have described arguments often breaking out between the two of them. In one case, tears were reportedly involved. The dispute seems particularly unique, with deputy registrars often working for several years.

Lia is the daughter-in-law of who is reportedly the most powerful man in the courts, the Prime Minister’s lawyer Pawlu Lia.

In 2010, Nadine Lia, who was a prosecuting lawyer, was slammed along with the defence for their “appalling behaviour” and continuous bickering which he said made a “mockery” of ­proceedings.

Lia’s appointment has been controversial due to the sphere of influence of Pawlu Lia, who also sits on the Commission for the Administration of Justice, in effect making him a judge who judges members of the judiciary.

Nadine Lia is also the focus of constitutional case filed by civil society Repubblika, challenging the current system of judicial appointments.

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