Editorial: Making courts more accountable
Maltese courts allow the public to attend most hearings freely, although many do not know this. It is perhaps one way of fulfilling the fundamental principle that justice should not just be done but also seen to be done. Still, this access is limited to physical presence. As a result, justice is rarely witnessed in operation by members of the public. One result of this is that the justice system continues to be opaque and poorly understood. Access to the courts would be enhanced tremendously if varying degrees of media access to transmit certain court cases were to be allowed. Two government MPs have divergent views on whether Malta should follow the example of the UK, Italy and the US in this matter. MP Glenn Bedingfield, a journalist by training, has argued in parliament that “it is time to start a discussion about what sort of access the media should have in our courtrooms. “How many times have you watched the news and, when a court report comes up, all you see is footage of empty courtrooms and corridors?” Justice Minister Jonathan Attard, a lawyer with experience as a journalist, is “not convinced” by his colleague’s arguments. He insists that the right to a fair trial...