Newly appointed magistrate had been cleared to become judge

Grazio Mercieca, sworn in as magistrate yesterday, had in fact been cleared by the Judicial Appointments Committee to be a judge, the Times of Malta has learnt.
The same constitutional body also cleared the appointment of Toni Abela as judge. He too took his oath of office yesterday. Earlier this year, Dr Abela failed to win the European Parliament’s approval to become a member of the European Court of Auditors.
It could not be confirmed yesterday why the government decided to appoint Dr Mercieca magistrate once the Judicial Appointments Committee advised he could serve in the superior courts.

The government approached Dr Mercieca after the committe’s clearance, and he accepted the role of magistrate instead of judge, senior government sources said.
Asked about it, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici would not comment. “As you know, the procedure on the appointment of members of the judiciary is confidential, and I cannot comment about it,” he said.
He was also asked whether it was possible that Dr Mercieca, 59, could eventually be appointed to sit as a judge in Gozo, but Dr Bonnici again refused to comment.
“I think you read a lot of fiction and novels,” he quipped. “I cannot state...