Wara d-direttiva tal-Prim Imħallef il-ġimgħa 5 ta’ Marzu 2021, li biha huwa stieden sabiex sal-11 ta’ April 2021, jinstemgħu biss kawżi ta’ natura urġenti, il-Kamra tinnota illi xorta waħda hemm numru ta’ ġudikanti li baqgħu jappuntaw seduti fil-qorti b’mod normali, u f’każijiet li propju ma jimmeritawx l-urġenza.
Il-Kamra tifhem u tapprezza li wara d-direttiva tal-Prim’ Imħallef l-aspettattiva kienet li aktar ġudikanti jkollhom id-disposizzjoni li jifmhu s-sitwazzjoni tal-avukati u l-partijiet f’’kawzi u allura jiddifferixxu l-kawzi kollha li mhumiex verament ta’ natura urġenti jew almenu jirrikorru għal mezzi teknoloġiċi li issa huma disponibbli fil-Qorti (anki jekk b’mod limitat) biex jinżammu seduti b’mod virtwali u remot. Il-Kamra tifhem illi kull ġudikant irid jieħu veduta hu dwar l-urġenza o meno ta’ kawża, pero temfasizza li fiċ-ċirkostanzi preżenti għandu verament ikun hemm raġunijiet oġġettivament ġustifikabbli t’urġenza biex tinżamm seduta, u jekk hemm tali ġustifikazzjonijiet allura s-seduta għandha tinżamm virtwalment. B’dan il-mod wieħed ikun jista’ jilħaq bilanċ bejn dak illi verament huwa essenzjali u dak li mhux mingħajr ma ħadd ma jitpoġġa f’sitwazzjoni ta’ riskju inutli ta’ saħħa, f’mument meta r-riskju huwa ogħli ħafna.
F’mument fejn is-sitwazzjoni tal-pandemija COVID-19 fil-pajjiż hija waħda ferm aktar serja minn dik ta’ Marzu 2020, meta l-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa dehrilhom li għandu jingħalaq il-Qorti, mhux possibbli illi l-Kamra tibqa passiva, fl-isfond ta’ fejn l-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa jieħdu pożizzjoni li filwaqt jagħlqu l-postijiet pubbliċi kollha u jillimitaw kemm jistgħu jiltaqgħu nies, il-Qrati jibqgħu jaħdmu.
Wara li l-bieraħ tħabbru restrizzjonijiet materjali ġodda mill-istess awtoritajiet propju biex jimmitigaw l-imxija tal-COVID-19, jidher illi l-awtroitajiet dehrilhom illi l-Qrati ma jikkostitwux riskju għas-saħħa pubblika, nonostante illi l-Qrati huma post fejn kulljum isiru mijiet ta’ seduti. Għalkemm ittieħdu numru ta’ miżuri fil-Qorti, li f’ċirkostanzi differenti kienu idoneji, fiċ-ċirkostanzi preżenti hemm bżonn jittieħdu miżuri aktar drastiċi, partikularment f’post pubbliku fejn huwa aktar faċli li jinxtered dan il-virus.
Il-Kamra hija tal-fehma illi l-pożizzjoni preżenti tirrikjedi miżuri differenti, biex tiġi salvagwardjata is-saħħa ta’ kull min huwa involut fosthom avukati, ġudikanti, impjegati tal-Qorti u l-pubbliku in ġenerali u din is-sitwazzjoni għandha tiġi ndirizzata b’azzjoni deċiża u immedjata.
Għalhekk il-Kamra qegħdha toħroġ direttiva lill-avukati kollha biex b’effett mill-14 ta’ Marzu 2021, ebda avukat m’għandu jattendi f’ebda seduta tal-Qorti jew ta’ Tribunal ieħor, u jekk hemm seduti li għandhom isiru dawn għandhom isiru biss b’mod virtwali u dan sakemm jingħataw direttivi ulterjuri. Dan għandu japplika bl-eċċezzjoni ta’ sitwazzjonijiet inevitabbli u urġenti ta’ seduti. Għall-mument mhumiex qegħdin jingħataw struzzjonijiet u direttivi fil-konfront t’ atti ġudizzjarji li għandhom bżonn jiġu preżentati fir-reġistru. Għaldaqstant, avukati għandhom xorta jottemperaw ruħhom ma’ termini legali għall-preżentata ta’ l-istess atti.
Il-Kamra ser tieħu veduta serja ħafna fil-konfront ta’ dawk l-avukati li nonostante dawn id-direttivi jippruvaw jieħdu vantaġġ skorrett għaliex l-avukat tal-kontroparti jottempera ruħhu ma dawn id-direttivi u ma jattendix għal-seduta. F’tali ċirkostanzi l-Kamra ser tinvestiga l-każ u jekk ikun jimmerita jitressaq quddiem il-Kumitat tal-Avukati u prokraturi legali.
Kull fejn avukat ikollu xi problema ma xi Qorti minħabba li jkun qiegħed josserva din id-direttiva għandu immedjatament javża lill-Kamra tal-avukati permezz ta’ email biex fejn ikun il-każ tintervjeni.
Il-Kamra tal-avukati tispera illi l-awtoritajiet kompetenti jagħrfu jintervjenu biex jieħdu l-miżuri effettivi u immedjati biex tiġi sospiża kull attività fil-Qrati qabel nhar it-Tnejn 14 ta’ Marzu.
Data ta’ llum 11 ta’ Marzu 2021
DIRECTIVE OF THE CHAMBER OF ADVOCATES COVID-19
Following the Directive issued by the Chief Justice on the 5th March 2021, in which he suggested that till the 11th of April 2021, only cases of an urgent nature should be held, the Chamber notes that notwithstanding such a directive, there were a number of members of the judiciary who continued to appoint sittings normally, and in proceedings which are not deemed urgent.
The Chamber understands that following the directive of the Chief Justice, there was an expectation that the members of the judiciary would understand the position of lawyers and clients and would thus adjourn all those cases which are not deemed to be urgent, or if not would at least make use of the technology which is now available in Court (even if limited) in order to hold virtual and remote sittings. The Chamber understands that it is in the discretion of every member of the judiciary to evaluate the urgency or otherwise of proceedings, however in the present circumstances, there must be objectively urgent reasons for a sitting to be held, and if such reasons do exist then such sitting should be held virtually. In this manner, a balance may be reached between what is really essential and what is not. Thus, no one is placed in a useless situation which is detrimental to one’s health, in a moment in time when such risk is very high.
Presently, when the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic is far more serious than it was in March 2020, at a time when the health authorities had held that the Court of Law should be closed, it is not possible for the Chamber to remain silent, especially due to the fact that the health authorities have again decided to close all public places, to limit the number of people in public gatherings, but to leave the Courts of Law open.
Following yesterday’s new restrictions issued by the health authorities in order to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it seems that the health authorities do not consider the Courts of Law to be a risk for public health, although it is a known fact that the Courts of Law are a public place where hundreds of sittings are held every day. Although a number of measures have been taken, which were deemed as sufficient in different circumstances, in the present situation more drastic measures need to be taken. This taking into consideration that the Courts of Law are a public place where the spreading of the Virus can take place easily.
The Chamber is thus of the opinion that in the present situation different measures need to be undertaken, in order to safeguard the health of all those involved including lawyers, members of the judiciary, court staff and the public in general. This situation must be addressed with immediate and direct action.
Thus, the Chamber is issuing the present directive through which from the 14th of March 2021, lawyers are not to attend any sitting before any Court or Tribunal, and if any sittings are to be held these are to be held virtually. This directive applies until further notice. This directive is applicable to all situations, excluding those court proceedings which are inevitable and urgent. Presently the Chamber is not issuing any instructions in respect of judicial acts that need to be presented in the Court Registry. Thus, lawyers must still abide by any legal terms for the presentation of the same acts.
The Chamber will take very seriously those situations in which lawyers, notwithstanding this directive, try to take advantage of the situation in respect of a lawyer who abides by this directive and does not attend a sitting. In such circumstances, the Chamber will be investigating the case and, if necessary, will take action against said lawyer before the Committee for Lawyers and Legal Procurators.
In the circumstance that in following this directive, lawyers encounter any type of problem with any member of the judiciary, he must immediately notify the Chamber by email, so the Chamber would be able to intervene if necessary.
The Chamber of Advocates augurs that the health authorities will intervene and take the necessary immediate and direct action to suspend all Court activity before Monday 14th of March 2021.
Today 11th March 2021
