Legal profession in shock

Politics was temporarily pushed aside as the news that a judge was charged with bribery became the central point of discussion. It was only a decade ago that the judiciary was rocked by a similar bribery scandal involving former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and former Judge Patrick Vella. Former members of the judiciary and the legal profession were also evidently shocked by the latest developments. “I am shocked by the episode,” Ombudsman and Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Said Pullicino said when asked to comment. He said his reaction upon hearing the news of Mr Justice Ray Pace’s arrest and arraignment was the same as when the Arrigo case came to light in 2002. Dr Said Pullicino had written to then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami expressing his shock and support at the decision to out the bribery case. “My feelings are the same today and I cannot agree more with those who are suggesting a reform to the system by making judges and magistrates more accountable, with full respect to their independence,” Dr Said Pullicino added. Chief Justice Emeritus Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici was similarly shocked by the developments but appealed for the court case to be allowed to run its natural...